Chelsea's coach Jose Mourinho believes that Galatasaray's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba has to return to the club where he enjoyed a highly-successful eight-year spell.

The 36-year-old left the Blues in 2012 after helping them win the Champions League title at the expense of Bayern Munich.

"He is a Galatasaray player, we know he is a free agent and we know he finishes his contract at the end of the season," Mourinho told Sky Sports News on Tuesday.

"But we think it is not the right moment to speak about him.

"I think it has to happen one day. When, I don't know - as a player, as a coach, as an ambassador - next year, in four or five years, in 10 years - I don't know.

"But when a person represents so much to a club and when a club represents so much to a person - and that's the case - I think he has to be back one day."

Mourinho praised the striker's capabilities, labeling him as one of the best strikers in the world.

"Undoubtedly he is one of the most important players in the history of this club - that is not a doubt. I think all Chelsea supporters we agree with that," he said.

"We don't say the most important one because that is not fair for other people that were in the same level and in the same generation, but for sure we all agree one of the most important players in the history of our club.

"Is he the same player at 36 that he was at 26? I think nobody is, but he is one of the best strikers in the world that's for sure."

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)