Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has been reportedly sued for £1 million by a Canadian shoemaker for deliberately avoiding an event at London’s Selfridges in 2017.
The 41-year-old was said to have struck an informal agreement to promote Jordan Pascal’s luxury JAD brand during his reign at Montreal Impact three seasons ago
SunSport, however, report that Pascal has now sued the former Ivorian striker for £1.25 million in lost earnings, expenses and damages.
Pascal says in his lawsuit: “Even though the contract was not formally signed, Drogba explicitly accepted its terms.”
If you think I am going to go watch Soccer Aid 2019 just so I can see Didier Drogba play one last time at Stamford Bridge, then you are absolutely correct.
The King 👑 pic.twitter.com/HDFkFoloF3
— Uber Chelsea FC 🏆 (@UberCheIseaFC) March 26, 2019
“His behaviour trapped me in a maze of broken promises and negligence. It exhausted my finances, destroyed my reputation in the fashion industry, made investors go away and led me to the brink of ruin and bankruptcy.”
Meanwhile, the former Chelsea star, who won a Champions League title with the club in 2012, will hope the case is booted out when heard at Montreal’s high court.
Drogba’s lawyers responded: “The allegations are false and defamatory. We will take the appropriate measures.
“He has always respected his obligations, as though the two parties were tied by the agreement for him to be the brand’s ambassador.”
Drogba announced his retirement from football in November 2018 after spending just one year at Phoenix Rising. He scored 14 goals in 22 appearances for the club.
Didier Drogba : "He brought something that we hadn’t seen for such a long time. The closest I can bring to him if I compare, if I may, is [Gianfranco] Zola. The talent to dribble, to make the difference and dribble one-versus-one. That’s him." pic.twitter.com/8oBt50RE0k
— Enock Kobina Essel (@kobinaessel39) March 28, 2019
The 41-year-old is expected to stage a return to Stamford Bridge as part of a World XI side taking on England at Soccer Aid 2019.
The four-time Premier League winner will be one of the four professionals on show in the charity match, which takes place on June 16.
We earlier reported that Didier Drogba has retired from football after a career span that lasted about two decades.
The Chelsea legend played his last game for Pheonix Rising in their slim defeat in last game of the season.
The Ivorian won a Champions League title and several other domestic trophies with the Blues before departing the club at the end of that season.