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Isaac Drogba, the son of Chelsea legend Didier, has reportedly gone AWOL from Portuguese second division side Academica, with the club failing to hear from the player in months.
The 21-year-old forward, who scored his first professional goal for Italian Serie D side Caratese last year, moved to Portugal soon after – and joined up with the B team at Academica in September.
He initially impressed bosses at the Coimbra-based side, with Academica’s B-team coach Miguel Carvalho calling him a "fast, technically good striker."
But they haven't heard from Drogba in months after he reportedly took time off to visit France and focus on his exams. In fact, Drogba was last seen by his teammates and coaches in January, according to Portuguese publication Zerozero via AS.
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Miguel Carvalho, who is Academica’s B-team coach, has spoken about the 21-year-old's current situation.
“He is a fun, fast, technically good striker, he needed time to grow," Carvalho said.
"The one who comes from outside always he needs some time and he didn't have it. He left and we don't know if he'll come back. It's a shame to be a bit settled because the quality is there.
"We agreed on a return date and he didn't show up. We haven't heard anything more about him."
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Carvalho added: “I met a good boy. The difference is that he didn't need to work to earn money at a higher level. I met many footballers and the ones who really want are the ones who fight.”
Drogba's last social media post on Instagram was back in December, where he thanks everyone for the birthday messages.
Matheus Palmerio, who is Drogba’s teammate as Academica, has said he doesn't know if the striker will come back to Portugal.
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“Isaac lived in our house for a few months, he was welcomed," Palmerio said.
"In January he said goodbye to us, said he was going to spend the weekend in France with his family and didn't come back. Honestly, I don't even know if he's coming back.”
Isaac Drogba started his career in the Chelsea youth system before joining French outfit Guingamp. He failed to make a single first-team appearance for both sides.
Featured Image Credit: isaacdrogba11/InstagramTopics: Didier Drogba, Chelsea
