Didier Drogba has backed former Chelsea teammate Lassana Diarra's move to Portsmouth. "When (Jose) Mourinho wanted to sign him, he told me and asked me about him," he told the official Chelsea website.

"I said good things about him and he thought he had found the next Makelele.

"For me, Lassana could be the next Makelele, but he also has more to his game and he likes to go forward as well."

He added: "It was difficult for (Mourinho) to let him play in his position because of Maka and (John Obi) Mikel, but he had some games at right back and played very well, and did really well in the Champions League and had some fantastic games.

"He just wanted to play more on the pitch and get games, which is understandable.

"Even though he is young, he wants to play against the big players, go one against one and show himself, to work and to improve.

"To do that, he knows he has to play against the best, so it's good for him that he is desperate to improve."