Shanghai fans not surprised at Drogba and Anelka departure

SHANGHAI - Shanghai Shenhua fans were not surprised to see star strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka end their Chinese odyssey after just one season, accepting that the high-profile duo had a desire to play at a higher level.

Cote d'Ivoire international Drogba concluded his brief spell in the Chinese Super League when he agreed to an 18-month contract with Turkish club Galatasaray on Monday, after Anelka had joined Italian giants Juventus on loan two days earlier.

Both strikers appeared content to opt for the lure of European Champions League football over the reported $300,000 per week salaries in one of Asia's fastest growing but still developing leagues.

"You know Chinese football is on the second or third level in Asia. They are not on the same level. So Anelka needs to play in a better team. So I don't feel any shock about his leaving," 31-year-old Shenhua fan Gu Zhonghua told Reuters.

Eyebrows were raised when former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris St Germain striker Anelka opted to ditch Chelsea and sign for the Chinese Super League strugglers in January last year.

However, the 33-year-old, nicknamed 'Le Sulk' due to a history of disputes with managers, never really settled in China.

The former French international took over as player-coach when his compatriot Jean Tigana was fired as manager only to criticize the club's owners when he was replaced by Argentine Sergio Batista in May.

He cut a frustrated figure for much of the campaign and scored just three goals in 22 appearances.

"I don't think he (Anelka) was at the peak of his ability while he was with Shenhua, even less than half of his peak," 35-year-old Shenhua fan Gong Jianhua said.

"It may be related to his increasing age but he made little impact for Shenhua. He didn't play nearly as well as he did in the Premier League."