Yaya Toure to stay in the Premier League after leaving Man City

By Daily Sports on May 9, 2018

Yaya Toure says he intends to play for another two years in the Premier League after he has left Manchester City.

After eight years, Toure, 34, ends his City career at home to Brighton on Wednesday.

With three Premier League titles, two EFL Cups and the 2011 FA Cup, when he scored the only goal in both the semi-final and the final, he has confirmed his status as a club legend.

However, he is likely to be lining up against City next season.

Asked if he was going to stay in England, the Ivorian said: "Yes. Definitely.

"I love the challenge and the difficulty. Some fans were asking 'are you retiring?' I said no. I have, maybe, two more years at a high level."

The big gamble

Toure was part of the all-conquering Barcelona squad that won the domestic league and cup double and beat Manchester United in the Champions League final in 2009.

Twelve months later, he left the Nou Camp for City in a £28m deal.

Even his wife Gibena questioned the wisdom of the transfer.

He said: "She said it was a big gamble and asked me how I could do it because Barcelona was at a high level and City were down there.

"I remember City were trying to get other players like Kaka but none of them were willing to come.

"They would go to United. Great. City. No. I had been at successful clubs. Olympiakos, Monaco, Barcelona. When you go to the museums there you can see all the older players.

"I asked if City had such a place. I went and looked but I didn't know any of them."

Starting to believe

City's fortunes have changed dramatically since those days.

The catalyst, according to Toure, was the FA Cup win in his first season, when Manchester United were defeated in the semi-final before Stoke were overcome in the final.

It was City's first trophy in 35 years.

Better was to follow 12 months later, when the Blues ended their 44-year wait for a league title thanks to Sergio Aguero's dramatic injury-time winner.

Toure was replaced just before half-time with a hamstring injury, having scored a crucial winner at Newcastle the previous week that allowed City to remain in charge of their own destiny.

He said: "Before we started to win trophies, the fans only thought bad things. They were always hiding because United were above them.

"After those first trophies they could say 'we are coming'. They started to believe in us."

Proving the critics wrong

There were many who greeted Toure's arrival in England with scorn, believing the only reason he had left a club of Barcelona's stature was money.

Six major trophies, 314 appearances and 82 goals is an emphatic answer to the critics.

He said: "I always loved to prove people wrong. I was put under a lot of pressure, as Paul Pogba, who has similar characteristics to me, is now.

"I believe Pogba will become the perfect player. And if they are honest, the people who said things about me will say they were wrong."

Perfect day

Twelve months ago, Toure's long-time team-mate Pablo Zabaleta was in tears when he said farewell to City.

Toure does not expect to cry on Wednesday, even though he admits to being emotional.

He prefers to look back with satisfaction on a job well done.

And he has one more target. He wants a goal against Brighton.

He said: "I will start shooting from the dressing room. I will do everything because it is my last game, in front of my fans, in my stadium.

"I want it to be perfect." (BBC)

Photo shows Toure

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 9, 2018


 

You may also like...
No doubt, Valverde and Alba will stay at...

Maddison injury 'doesn't look great' - Postecoglou

Arteta Provides Update On Balogun Contract Talks

Chelle chases second win against Warriors in Uyo...

Pogba in Team of the Year; Hazard Misses...

Victor Moses Back On Spartak Moscow Radar

 

Latest News Italy in 'difficult moment' after defeat by Norway Ronaldo rejects offers to play at Club World Cup Fans must not 'over expect' before Andorra match - Tuchel Saka left out of England squad to face Andorra Was that Djokovic's goodbye to the French Open? Spurs captain Son says Postecoglou a club 'legend' Jorginho joins Flamengo after Arsenal departure NSF: SWAN Anambra Calls For Review Of Sports Policy After Abeokuta Poor Performance 36 yrs after, NFF honours Sam Okwaraji with a tournament Delap not part of England Under-21 squad for Euros Beckham set to be awarded knighthood Yamal shines as Spain beat France in nine-goal thriller

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,512 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,666 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,684 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,283 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,276 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,274 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,075 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,618 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,723 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,348 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,790 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,209 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media