The Ivory Coast striker, who turns 33 this week, has endured a difficult spell both on and off the pitch recently with criticism of his performances and ongoing political unrest in his native Ivory Coast causing additional headaches for his charity foundation.

Speculation continues about his future and Drogba was unwilling to discuss his plans. However, he did admit he would prefer to move full-time into humanitarian work rather than stay within football when he quits playing.

"Yes, of course," he said. "Working with the humanitarian thing is something very important to me.

"It's not just because I am playing - I am not doing this just to promote myself. I'm using my image to promote my foundation, so it is something I want to do long-term.

"It's not something you do and after three years you (stop). It's something very serious. I'm not doing it for fame.

"Actually it's my main passion. When I retire, it will become my priority number one.

"At the moment, playing is very important too!"

Asked how long he could continue playing, Drogba, on a flying visit to the Global Sports Forum in Barcelona, joked: "I don't know, maybe 10 years?

"I don't know, even if I'm not doing it full-time, I'm giving it my best and that's the most important thing.

"If I retire tomorrow or in five years or six years, I don't know, but it's not really the point.

"The point is the involvement, being their full-time or part-time, it is involvement."

Drogba also took time to defend Ivory Coast team-mate Kolo Toure, insisting his friend's failed drugs test was "a stupid mistake" rather than deliberate cheating.

It emerged on March 3 that Manchester City defender Toure, 29, tested positive for "a specified substance" and he was promptly suspended pending a full investigation.

Drogba said: "It would be a difficult situation for us if he is banned because he is one of the most important players, one of the oldest, most experienced players.

"It would be very difficult for us if something like this happens.

"I think we all know how stupid it was, the mistake, and I don't think he did it to improve his performance.

"I think it was just a mistake and we feel sorry for him and he has all our support, and that's the maximum we can do.

"I spoke to him and he was down, but that is normal. He said it was just a mistake.

"There's not a big difference between what is said by Arsene Wenger and what he said (to me)."