Impact, Drogba confirm his 2016 MLS return

Didier Drogba, the former Chelsea standout who joined the Montreal Impact last season, will return to the Canadian club for the 2016 Major League Soccer campaign, the team announced Sunday. The 37-year-old Ivory Coast striker tweeted a photo of himself saying, "On way to Qatar to do some preparation work for pre-season @impactmontreal." Last season, Drogba scored 11 goals in 11 MLS matches and sparked the Impact into the playoffs. Fans had worried he might make a return to his former English Premier League side, possibly as an assistant coach, after he attended a Chelsea match with club officials last month. But Drogba denied any plans to retire and the Impact made it clear Sunday he was part of their plans for the upcoming season despite the fact he will not be at Monday's opening workout at Olympic Stadium. "Forward Didier Drogba will not be present for the opening of the camp, but he will be doing preparation work in view of the upcoming season," the Impact said in a statement. "He will join the team for the second part of training camp, which will take place from February 15-28 in St.Petersburg, Florida." Nine others will wait until Florida to join the 25 players who begin camp in Canada. The Impact will open the MLS season March 6 at Vancouver.