){kind=small}
Ligue 1){kind=logo}
REN
){kind=small}
FCN
){kind=small}
LaLiga){kind=logo}
ESP
){kind=logo}
GET
){kind=small}
Premier){kind=small}
SOF
){kind=small}
MAU
){kind=small}
FCT
){kind=small}
KCB
){kind=small}
MSU
){kind=small}
RAY
){kind=logo}
VAL
){kind=small}
ULS
){kind=small}
KAK
){kind=small}
POR
){kind=small}
BAN
){kind=small}
GOM
){kind=small}
Serie A){kind=logo}
LEC
){kind=small}
COMO
){kind=small}
TUF
){kind=small}
AFC
){kind=small}
POL
){kind=small}
KAS
){kind=small}
Bundesl){kind=small}
RBL
){kind=logo}
HSK
){kind=logo}
M05
){kind=logo}
WOB
){kind=logo}
HDH
){kind=small}
FCB
){kind=logo}
SVW
){kind=logo}
BOC
){kind=logo}
SCF
){kind=logo}
TSG
){kind=small}
Premier){kind=small}
BRE
){kind=logo}
BHA
){kind=small}
CRY
){kind=small}
BOU
)
Toure, who went on to become a Manchester City great, had the chance to follow in his brother Kolo's footsteps of signing for Arsenal in 2003, but the move never materialised.
Former Manchester City great Yaya Toure has opened up on his failed transfer to Arsenal in 2003 after taking part in a six-month trial with the 2004 league champions.
Yaya was eager to join his brother Kolo at Arsenal, who had previously secured his own contract the previous year after a successful trial.
However, a slight issue in his paperwork later delayed Yaya’s permanent move to the Gunners.
)
13:42 - 02.04.2025
'I play for him'- Ronney Onyango out to make his late father proud after being unveiled by Norwegian club
Ronney Onyango has officially joined Sogndal Fotball with the aim of honouring his late father.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Toure, who was dubbed the next Patrick Vieira , was meant to sign as a heir-apparent to the French legend, but was denied a chance to sign for the club after failing to acquire a work permit.
“At the beginning, I think the issue was the paperwork,” Toure said.
“ Back then, you had to either have a European passport or have played 75% of your national team games to qualify to play in England. That was the tricky part.”
Toure opened up on a loophole then coach Arsene Wenger wanted him to exploit in order to join the club - acquiring Belgian citizenship - an option he was not willing to consider.
)
04:56 - 03.04.2025
Former Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKinstry unleashes scathing criticism of local Kenyan players
Johnathan McKinstry has unleashed a scathing criticism of local Kenyan players in regards to securing moves abroad compared to their West African counterparts.
“The club was actually willing to let me go back to Belgium and carry on for another year or two to get the Belgian passport. But at that time, I wasn’t playing regularly for the national team.”
Following the failed move, Toure moved to Ukraine to play for Metalurh Donetsk.
“In my mind, I felt like it was time to go abroad—to test myself and try something different. So from that point, I ended up being sold to Ukraine. And that’s when I started to feel frustrated.
"For me, it felt like a failure, because I didn’t make the move I had hoped for. It was difficult because my mind was divided. I didn’t just want a passport for the sake of it—I wanted to play for my national team too. But I was still very young and not experienced enough to secure my place in the team."
The former Ivory Coast international also enjoyed stints at Olympiacos and Monaco before moving to Barcelona in 2007.
)
04:59 - 03.04.2025
Top 7 African Countries With the Most Olympic Medals
African countries have often stolen the spotlight on the world's grandest stage, accruing multiple Olympic medals, but which ones are the most decorated?
Speaking on his Barcelona experience, where played over 100 matches for the club and was part of the historic Barcelona team that won six trophies in a calendar year, Toure looked back with satisfaction on his experience at the club, and what made the club special.
"In the beginning, it really was a dream come true, to be honest. I used to dream about it when I was at the academy with my brother.
“We would watch Canal Plus—a bit like Sky Sports—and we followed a lot of games. We watched Madrid, Barcelona, all the big teams.
“From my point of view, the perfect football was Barcelona. The way they played, the philosophy—it matched how we were educated in the academy (at ASEC Mimosas).
“It was all about tiki-taka football. Every coach instilled that style in us. The academy was really impressive, and the mentality was aligned with Barcelona’s philosophy.
“So for me, going to Europe, I always thought I’d one day play for Barcelona. That was the dream.”
He left to join Manchester City in 2010, and during his time with the club, he won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cups, before moving back to Olympiacos in 2018. He also had a spell in China before hanging up his boots in 2020.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)