Galatasaray midfielder Felipe Melo believes that the signing of Didier Drogba has made the Turkish outfit real contenders for silverware this season.

Drogba joined Wesley Sneijder at the club in the January transfer window, with Melo insisting that the pair's influence has helped the team.

"Their arrival has helped a lot. They are big names who have achieved so much, but there's nothing big-headed about them. They're prepared to dig in like anyone else, and that's been essential," Melo told FIFA.com.

"They had a big hand in us reaching the quarters and they've been crucial in the Turkish championship.

"Drogba is a role model. He won the Champions League for Chelsea, attracted big crowds wherever he went in China and he's got a lot of charisma in the dressing room. He's going to bring us trophies, and we're full of hope."

Galatasaray face Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final clash in the Champions League on Wednesday.