Roma striker Abraham: The first time Drogba helped me at Chelsea... | OneFootball

AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham has spoken of the influence of Didier Drogba on his career.

Abraham spent his entire career at Chelsea before leaving for Roma this summer.

He has already won over the Giallorossi support with an impressive start to the season. In the Serie A's opening four games, Abraham has scored once and produced two assists.

The England international was a junior player at Chelsea's academy during Drogba's first stint with the London giants.

Quoted by TMW, Abraham recalled: "The first memory of Didier dates back to when I was late for a workout: there were cars in front of me that didn't let me pass. My mother started screaming at security because I was late, Drogba was overtaking us with his car and offered to let me in with him.

"None of my teammates saw me with him, but I can say that I went to training with Drogba. I was 7/8 years old, I tried to look at him in the mirror. It was incredible. He was a bully, a bully, the team he bullied the most was Arsenal: my family and I were Arsenal fans."

Indeed, Abraham admits he rued the way Drogba would lift his game against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal whenever they faced off. However, the striker also valued being able to study up close Drogba's game as he worked his way up the club's junior and youth levels.

He continued: "In Chelsea-Arsenal, I remember how Drogba bullied Arsenal defenders. He was very strong physically, a great finisher, good with his feet. I think he reinvented the role of the number 9. How he used his body to hold the ball, then he scored so many goals."

Now 43, Drogba won four Premier League titles as a Chelsea player and the Champions League.

- updated September 20