Didier Drogba has rejected the chance to join Marseille, insisting that his former club are not ambitious enough for him to see out the remaining years of his career with.
The 37-year-old is a free agent after being released by Chelsea following a one-year return to Stamford Bridge, having first joined the Blues from Marseille back in 2004.
The Ivorian has previously stated his reluctance to retire and recently snubbed a move to MLS side Orlando City, where he would have played alongside Kaka.
It was reported that Drogba would return to Stade Velodrome in the wake of losing Andre Ayew and Andre-Pierre Gignac - who scored a combined 33 goals last season - but he ruled out a comeback.
"It's not a question of money. I like to have a project. And Marseille, which I know well, does not have a project," he told RTI.
"They have sold their best players, whom they let go till the end of their contracts. I'm talking about Andre Ayew, Andre-Pierre Gignac ... and they'll lose more.
"I don't want to go to Marseille to just play. If I go somewhere, it's to win, and I want to win. The question has been coming up for 10 years. There have been times when I could have returned, but the timing wasn't right. And each time my name comes up when it's time to renew season tickets. I don't want people to use me for financial purposes."
Drogba only spent one season with Les Phoceens, but netted 19 times in 35 appearances during the 2003-04 campaign.
Shane Callaghan
