Despite winning the Champions League at Barcelona, Yaya Toure’s career remains synonymous with Manchester City.
The Ivorian legend played 316 games in total for City, with 81 goals and 45 assists to his name while also winning three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
Joe Hart claimed Yaya Toure was better than Rodri, which goes to show how tremendous a player he was but before his move to the Sky Blues, he had a trial at Arsenal.
16 years ago today, 20-year-old Yaya Toure pulled on an Arsenal shirt while on trial.
The Gunners decided not to sign him 🙃 pic.twitter.com/eU9kGAZP14
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 19, 2019
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However, signining for Manchester City in the summer when Chelsea were the reigning champions of England, Toure had an instant impact at the Etihad Stadium — ending the club’s much-awaited trophy drought by spearheading them towards lifting the FA Cup in 2011.
A season after, Yaya Toure played a crucial role in City winning the Premier League as well. The retired midfielder’s impact remains incredible, with even Manchester United wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo naming Toure as a player he studies.
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
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Yaya Toure admits Chelsea tried to sign him before Man City move
Yaya Toure was well and truly a one-of-a-kind player and even to this day, there is not a midfielder as well-rounded as he was in world football.
Yves Bissouma named Toure as Africa’s greatest-ever player, which goes to show how impactful he was in a City shirt.
Even so, Shaun Wright-Phillips reckons Yaya Toure is underrated and in fairness, it is difficult not to run out of superlatives when reflecting on his greatness.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand Presents’ YouTube channel, Yaya Toure has now revealed that in the summer of 2010, Chelsea made a move for him but he chose to sign for Manchester City: “It was a great window about the World Cup coming in 2010 in South Africa. I knew I was going to play because I have the full confidence, trust in the coach and manager.”
“And after that, I knew if you had played that competition, the World Cup, you would be club coming. And I was patient, you know and as soon as Man City come, Chelsea was there as well. And for me, it was the right moment to move. And it happened when my brother cut the phone and called me, okay, I signed for Man City.”
Yaya Toure record vs Chelsea as Blues must regret not signing him
Luckily for Roberto Mancini at the time and Manchester City in general, the decorated maestro made a move to the Etihad Stadium.
Considering Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea side had won the league in 2010, they would have considered themselves favourites to sign Yaya Toure.
The Blues had an outstanding season as they beat Manchester United to the title and also managed to score a record 103 league goals at the time.
But Yaya Toure’s heart was set on becoming a Manchester City player and his record against Chelsea went on to be quite impressive — as he won eight, drew four and lost five games against the Londoners while scoring and assisting two times apiece.
YAYA TOURE RECORD VS CHELSEA
WINS 8
DRAWS 4
LOSSES 5
GOALS 2
ASSISTS 2