| Drogba praised, Moreno next Shanghai target |
SHANGHAI As Shanghai Shenhua players purred about lining up alongside new signing Didier Drogba, manager Sergio Batista said he was closing in on the transfer of Colombian international Giovanni Moreno to further boost the Chinese Super League strugglers.
Ivory Coast striker Drogba announced he had agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with Shanghai on Wednesday, but rather than sit back and bask in the monumental deal for Chinese football, former Argentina boss Batista was focusing on the next big name.
Moreno, 25, who currently plays for Racing Club in Argentina, has been identified as the man to provide the assists for Drogba and Batista said he was hopeful the attacking midfielder would be in China before the month was out.
“Perhaps there are still some problems with (Giovanni) Moreno’s club. I hope that he can arrive in Shanghai this week or next week,” the manager told reporters at the club’s weekly news conference on Thursday.
“The club has put in a lot of effort to bring him here so we are still waiting for these problems to be sorted out. He will not be able to play for this weekend’s game but I hope he can be available for the next game.”
Shanghai said their dreams had come true when they confirmed they had signed Drogba and could pair the Ivory Coast striker up front with former France international Nicolas Anelka.
Drogba will join up with his new team mates in July after his contract with Chelsea expires and Batista could not wait for the powerful forward, known as ‘The Beast’ in China, to arrive.
Reuters
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