Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has declared that Didier Drogba has a future with the Blues in some capacity, but ruled out a playing return to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Drogba spent eight seasons with Chelsea, winning 12 major honours including four Premier League titles and a Champions League crown.

Mourinho told The Sun: "Is he a very important player in Chelsea's history? Yes. Will Didier Drogba always be in the memory of Chelsea fans, the Chelsea board, the Chelsea owner, fellow Chelsea players, Chelsea kids growing up? Yes.

"Is it normal that Didier will be in the future connected with Chelsea again? I think yes. How? I don't know. Now he is still a player and a winner. He enjoys his game and I almost had a heart attack because of him playing for Galatasaray in the Champions League against Real Madrid last season.

"So let him enjoy a good couple of years of football. But after that, because he is loved in this club, I think one day he will have a Chelsea future."

Drogba, who scored 157 goals in 341 Chelsea appearances, currently plies his trade for Turkish side Galatasaray.