Former Chelsea and Côte d’Ivoire forward, Didier Drogba, has spoken out in defense of Jose Mourinho following allegations of racism from his former club, Galatasaray.
Mourinho, who currently manages Fenerbahce, sparked controversy with remarks about the Galatasaray bench “jumping like monkeys” during a heated 0-0 draw between the two Turkish rivals.
In response, Galatasaray announced plans to pursue legal action, stating they would “initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho” and file formal complaints with both UEFA and FIFA.
Fenerbahce quickly fired back, dismissing Galatasaray’s claims as “pathetic slander.”
Now, Drogba has stepped in to defend his former Chelsea manager.
Taking to X, the Ivorian legend addressed the controversy, posting, “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!!
“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 Jose Mourinho. Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for xx years and he is not a racist and history (past and recent) is there to prove it.”
He also stressed, “How can my ‘Dad’ be a racist … come on guys.”
Drogba and Mourinho enjoyed a highly successful partnership at Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles together during their time at the club.
