Chelsea and Cote d’Ivoire legend Didier Drogba has announced that he is seperated from his wife Lalla Diakate who he met in the 1990s in Paris and married in 2011.

The footballer who has maintained a discreet private life as he tried to shield his loved ones from the limelight, made the announcement after appearing in an intimate video in bed with a mystery woman.

Drogba was forced to issue the statement after appearing bare-chested in bed with a nearly-naked young woman. In the video which a representative claimed had been hacked, the lady playfully sunk her teeth into Drogba's shoulder as he screamed in pain.

He then speaks to her in French about being bitten, and appeared to say; 

“She's positive!  She'll infect me by biting me!”

Confirming his split from Diakate thereafter, he wrote; 

 “I’m not in the habit of discussing my private life.

“But, because of speculation in the media today, I can confirm that sadly, after 20 years together, Lalla and I took the difficult decision to separate last year.

“We remain very close, and our main priorities have been to protect our children and our family’s private life.

“May God bless you.”