Yaya Toure is hailed as one of the best Manchester City midfielders of all time, with the player racking up 316 appearances and scoring 82 goals between 2010 & 2018. He was essential in their three Premier League title victories in 2011-12, 13-14 and 17-18. However, despite his contributions, his relations with the club remain strained.
The breakdown of relations started when Toure interviewed with France Football that included ‘inflammatory’ quotes about Pep Guardiola and his attitude towards Africans, or even people of colour which was inexcusable.
‘That interview was my big, huge mistake,’ Toure rues. ‘When you give your trust, your voice to someone, they can twist it.
‘I was aware some staff were not happy. I emailed a letter to try to communicate with some important people there to apologise and say I’ve been indecent to the club but I haven’t had any feedback.
‘I want peace. We don’t want this (acrimony) all the time. For the love of the fans, for the love of the club, sometimes things have to be settled the right way. I’ve been in touch with some people there.’
The player was there right at the beginning of City’s rise and United’s fall, one of the defining moments in his status as a City legend was in the FA Cup semi finals against United in 2011. Toure pinched the ball off Michael Carrick and went on to slot past Edwin Van Der Saar to help City into the finals and also scored the winner in the finals against Stoke City.
‘People write my name as being there at the start of the change for this club,’ he says. ‘For me, that is more than enough. I will always be delighted to be part of this club. I was there at the beginning of United’s fall.’
