Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has spoken out in support of his former coach, José Mourinho, following accusations of racism against the Portuguese manager.
Drogba, who played under Mourinho at Chelsea, dismissed the allegations in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. He stated that he has known Mourinho for 25 years and strongly denied any claims of racism against him.
Addressing the controversy, Drogba urged Galatasaray fans to focus on supporting their team rather than getting involved in the debate surrounding Mourinho’s alleged comments.
“Dear @GalatasaraySK, you know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey!!” Drogba wrote.
“We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it. I’ve seen the recent comments about José Mourinho. Trust me when I tell you I have known José for 25 years, and he is not a racist. History (past and recent) is there to prove it.
“Let’s focus on our games, support our brilliant Lions, and let’s win the league to get close to our five stars. How can my ‘Dad’ be a racist?” he added.
Mourinho, who recently took charge of Fenerbahçe, has been at the center of controversy after making remarks that some people interpreted as racially insensitive. The allegations have stirred strong reactions, especially among rival fans in Turkey.
Drogba, who won multiple trophies under Mourinho at Chelsea, is the latest well-known figure to publicly defend the former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager.
