EL-HADJI Diouf hopes to stay in England with Blackburn Rovers for the foreseeable future – but he is already making plans for a potentially lucrative end to his career.
Diouf joined Rovers from Sunderland in January and established himself as a regular in the starting line-up.
The Senegal international is optimistic that Rovers can have ‘an excellent season’ after surviving relegation during 2008/09 and is still enjoying life in English football, having previously had spells with Liverpool and with Sam Allardyce at Bolton.
But Diouf has not ruled out ending his career in the oil rich Qatar or Dubai, or even in the United States, and also hopes to become coach of the Senegal national team one day.
“You never know what is going to happen tomorrow in football,” he said.
“The fact that I signed a four-year contract with Sunderland but left after six months proves it.
“Today, Blackburn want to have an excellent season – the coach is going to sign good players and achieve what he did with Bolton. I understand that he is ambitious.
“I didn’t hesitate when he called me. But if I receive offers ... we will always have offers. But today, I am not interested in Italy or Spain.
“I won’t return to France, but Qatar or Dubai, and the United States as well, are options for the future.
“I want to finish my high-level career in England and, for the moment, I have a four-year contract with Blackburn.
“I am passing my badges to become a coach in the future. My manager, Sam Allardyce, gives me advice and is by my side.”
Diouf has often relished his own notoriety in English football and believes he is now even more unpopular than Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
He said: “I have appeared in 300 games since I moved to England and I am used to people booing me.
“One day, Gary Speed told me, ‘People never boo bad players’. When the opposite fans hate you it means you are a good player.
“The proof is that Cristiano Ronaldo is the most hated player, I come second and then there’s Didier Drogba.
“When I go to the restaurant with my wife, people look for trouble, but I try to put things into perspective.
"I built a bad reputation for myself but I always take responsibility for my actions.”
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