‘Valencia rejected my recommendation for Chelsea legends Drogba, Malouda’

Pep Claramunt has revealed Valencia ignored his recommendation to sign Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda.

A playing legend at Mestalla, Claramunt worked as a scout for the club at the turn of the century.

He previously told Tribalfootball about how he noticed a young Cristiano Ronaldo before his move to Manchester United.

And the 74-year-old says Los Che did not take notice of his opinion on Drogba and Malouda when they were playing at Sochaux.

Both players would leave for bigger clubs in France, Drogba to Marseille and Malouda to Lyon, before reuniting at Chelsea.

“I saw striker Drogba and winger Malouda play when they were at Sochaux,” Claramunt told Tribalfootball.com.

“I could see that they were both great players but, again, Valencia CF ignored my recommendations to buy them both.

“Drogba went on to great things at Marseille and even greater things at Chelsea. Malouda went on win Cups and leagues with Lyon and Chelsea and also represented the French national side.”

Drogba, an uncompromising forward, won four Premier League titles and four FA Cups across two spells with the Blues.

read also:Why I picked Drogba as my idol – Osimhen

Malouda was a star on the wing for Chelsea, helping win one Premier League title and three FA Cups. Drogba, meanwhile, would become one of the club’s greatest, winning a Champions League, along with those four Premier League titles.

Indeed, both players lined-up in the club’s first Champions League title victory over Bayern Munich in 2012.