Ghanaian footballer Michael Essien has been released by Persib Bandung ahead of the new Liga 1 season after he was conspicuously missing from the team’s launching ceremony on Saturday. The 35-year-old was said to have extended his contract with the Bandung Tigers for another season, but the club have now decided to release him as part of the league’s transfer policy.

Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been linked with a surprise move to Persipura Jayapura after failing to report to pre-season training with Persib Bandung. The Ghanaian's present deal only expires at the end of the year, but the club have the option of extending the contract by an additional year.

Speaking to BolaSport.com, Persib manager Mario Gomez admitted that the club have not heard from the Champions League winner, though he has been spotted training at Chelsea's Cobham training ground, he said: "I did not hear from him, he did not come to practice. But I know he went to London."

Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien claims that there is a higher probability that superstar Eden Hazard could end up joining Real Madrid in the upcoming summer. Hazard appeared to be close to agreeing a contract with Chelsea, as his existing deal only has a couple of years left. The 26-year-old was rumoured to be made the next big star at Chelsea with a rumoured wage packet of around £ 300,000 per week. However, the threat of Real Madrid has been surrounding Hazard ever since he was a talented midfielder at Lille. Those rumours continue to grow with Real Madrid being managed by Zinedine Zidane – the idol of Hazard.

Zidane and Hazard have showered mutual respect on a number of occasions. This coupled with the glamour of playing for a club like Real Madrid could eventually force this transfer, according to a player who has played for both clubs in the past. Essien is known for his time at Chelsea, but he spent a small time on loan at Real Madrid while recovering from a long-term injury problem. As a result, he is one of the few players in the world who knows what it takes to play for both Chelsea and Real Madrid. After having been one of the top players since making the switch from Lille in 2012, Hazard may want a new challenge in his career.

Former Ghana international Derek Boateng has revealed that he could potentially finish his professional career in his homeland alongside Michael Essien. Boateng, who has previously won 47 caps for the Black Stars, is presently a free-agent following his exit from OFI Crete earlier in the summer.

In an interview covered by Ghanasoccernet, Boateng revealed that the pair could potentially reunite at the Liberty Professionals, where they began their respective youth careers, he said, "Oh yeah, why not? I don’t have a problem playing in the Ghana Premier League, in fact it is something me and Essien have talked about before. That we should come back home and play for Liberty Professionals before we retire because we really didn’t have a feel of the Ghana league before leaving the shores of Ghana to play in Europe."

Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has dismissed his chances of entering into coaching once his playing career comes to an end.

The Ghana international is currently in the ranks of Indonesian side Persib Bandung, where he has proved a huge success since joining in March.

There was a recent suggestion that Essien could follow in the footsteps of former Blues teammate Claude Makelele and enter into coaching in the future. However, the veteran midfielder has dismissed the claims by suggesting that coaching is not his thing, he said: "I do not know, I cannot be a coach. Maybe I will just leave football and enjoy time with my family."

Former Ghana international Derek Boateng has heaped praised on Michael Essien by applauding the professionalism and determination which he has carried over the course of his illustrious career.

The ex-Chelsea star is regarded as one of the finest footballers for Ghana and Africa as a whole, having won numerous honours including the Champions League and Premier League with the Blues.

Former Chelsea star Michael Essien is prepared to extend his stay in the Indonesian league with Persib Bandung.

The former Ghana international is not in a hurry to leave the Far East nation amid suggestions that he could make a return to Europe after becoming a huge hit in Persib.

The 34-year-old linked up with the Indonesian outfit in a bumper one-year contract earlier in March, and following a slow start, he has established himself as a key performer for the club. Former Blues teammate Carlton Cole did not have a similar influence in Persib as he was released midway through the campaign with just two league starts.

Ghana International Sulley Ali Muntari says he hopes to win a trophy for the national team before quitting football. The midfielder wants back into the international scene where he stayed away from for three years.

The Italy based man wants the Black Stars to win a trophy in his time and he feels he can contribute to the team. He adds that despite the odds, the Ghana team can still qualify for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia next year.

Former West Ham United and Chelsea striker Carlton Cole has been released from his Persib Bandung contract after he failed to deliver in the first half of the Indonesian Liga 1 season.

The 33-year-old joined Persib Bandung alongside his former Blues teammate Michael Essien in March, but he failed to score a single goal during his time in the Far East.

Former Ghanaian captain John Mensah admits that Michael Essien is the best player he has played with in the past two decades.

The 34-year-old has features for the likes of Lyon and Rennes in a 16-year career, but he shares a fond relationship with Essien with whom he enjoyed success with the Black Stars.