Yaya Toure confident of success at Manchester City
Yaya Toure is confident he will be a hit at Manchester City, as he prepares to join his new team mates. (Photo: Yaya Toure is a key member of the Ivory Coast national side).
The 27-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder has joined his brother Kolo at the club after agreeing a five-year deal.
Toure, who played every minute of Ivory Coast’s disappointing World Cup campaign, had lost his regular place at his previous club Barcelona.
“It has been two years since Man City wanted me, I am happy and want to make this club big,” he told BBC Sport.
Toure said he wanted to experience the passion generated by English football fans first hand.
“I once had a trial at Arsenal for two months and I loved it – the way people love football, in December in Europe everyone is on holiday, but they still play football and it’s amazing,” he stated.
He is looking forward to teaming up with his older brother Kolo and with the former Togo international striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Yaya Toure is keen to playing with his brother Kolo and Emmanuel Adebayor
“I spoke to Emmanuel and my brother after the signing and said to them I want to make this club great in Europe,” he added.
“The people at the club have a direction to make this club one of the greatest like Barcelona, like Real Madrid – this first year the objective is to qualify for the European Champions League and I am sure eventually we will win the Premier League.”
Despite having fallen out of favour in his last season at Barcelona, Toure said he leaves the Spanish champions with fond memories.
“I played with some of the greatest players in the world like Messi, Iniesta, Xavi – in my three years I won seven titles, I will never forget this,” he said.
After Ivory Coast’s disappointing showing at South Africa 2010, Toure said he was still hopeful of winning a title with his national side.
“When you see this generation of players – Drogba, my brother, everyone plays in big clubs in Europe,” he stated.
“I want to finish my national team career with at least one trophy – I hope at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations that Ivory Coast can win something because with the kind of players we have, it will be very very bad to finish football and win nothing.”
Michael Oti Adjei, BBC Sport, Accra
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