The former PSG defender has been without a club since his exit from SPAL but says he is in no rush to return to action
Boukary Drame insists he still has the hunger to play in Serie A at the age of 33.
The former PSG defender left SPAL at the end of the 2017-18 season, after playing a total of five games for the club.
Drame has endured something of a nomadic career thus far, spending two years with PSG, playing 39 times, four years with Sochaux, including a loan to Real Sociedad, as well as spells with Chievo and Atalanta.
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However, he is remaining hopeful of finding another club, and maintains that he retains the quality to play in the Italian top-flight.
“I’m still waiting for a good challenge. My priority is to play again. I dont’ know what the clubs have today… It’s true that there were problems with the coach in Bergamo, I had little playing time at SPAL, but I played several seasons in Serie A and I couldn’t become a bad player overnight,” he told Goal.
He added: “I still have the strength and energy to play. But in France, at 33 years old, we tend to say you’re burned. I don’t understand why. It’s not the same mentality here, in Italy. I have played several years at the top level, I have experience. For me, the club has nothing to lose to take me.
“Without being too pretentious, I think I’ve already shown things. If I played several years in the first division, it is because I have qualities. I’m a little surprised, but I’m not losing hope. Some clubs may have gaps in my position and I stand ready if one of them needs me.”
Indeed, Drame maintains that his injuries cost him last season, with a calf injury disrupting his spell with SPAL after something of a fall-out with manager
“The coach said, ‘with me, the injured players will have problems’.
“It went wrong for me when he arived. I regret that the medical staff didn’t help me more.
“It was not entirely my fault.”