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Drogba: Shanghai switch not about money

Didier Drogba left Chelsea on a high © PA Photos

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Didier Drogba has insisted his move to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua was not motivated by money.

Drogba, 34, brought an end to his eight years at Chelsea after he opted not to renew his contract with the Champions League winners at the end of last season.

Instead, the Ivorian forward signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Shanghai Shenhua, where his former Blues team-mate Nicolas Anelka also plies his trade.

It has been reported that Drogba's contract with his new club is worth in the region of £200,000 a week, yet the striker has been keen to stress he is in China for a new challenge.

Speaking at his first press conference as a Shanghai Shenhua player, he said: "I decided to come here because when the club and the president approached me, I looked at the project and it came with ambitious ideas. He wants to help football develop in China.

"I know China is a great sports country so for me it was also a big challenge because it could have been easy for me to stay in Europe and go to another team, another big team.

"Really, I didn't come here with the idea of making a lot of money. I come here because it is a completely different challenge from what I have seen in Europe before.

"And that's the idea, there are many challenges but this one is a big one. With my team mates, we are going to perform as much as we can. And I came here to win the league, I am not coming here as the beginning of the retirement or something like this.

"I want people to make sure and to understand that I am here to win. I am not here to sit and relax."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.