The two players transformed Manchester City into serial winners but will be remembered very differently “Sign Silva first, I will come.” In the summer of 2010, so the story goes, Manchester City’s chief executive Garry Cook was trying to pull off two of the biggest deals in the club’s history. But there was a problem. Yaya Touré was on the verge of joining, but wanted to make sure City signed David Silva first. The Valencia man’s response? “Sign Yaya first, I will come.”They both did and the rest – at least, as of Sunday evening – is history. As Silva took his leave from the Etihad Stadium pitch after his final appearance in English football, the absence of a crowd...
Yaya Touré is no Johan Cruyff but they are mild compared to the keeper who caused chaos for Celtic and against StokeIt is getting to the stage where we are going to have to accept Yaya Touré is no Johan Cruyff. Shame, really, because the Ivorian had the right idea. Whether served with an upturned bowl of steaming hot bile or a platter of cold hard truths, the revenge of the jilted footballer can be an entertaining force. None of the sport’s great orators, from Bill Shankly to Claude Puel, has ever given a team talk as inspirational as a well-nurtured grudge.In 1910, the magnificent Leigh Roose set an example that may never be matched but we will get to...
The Etihad Stadium said goodbye to the Ivorian this week and he leaves with the feeling that the Premier League never quite appreciated how good he was at his peakBeing a parent isn’t easy. Over time you just hope you can pass on as many of your own flaws and prejudices, minimise the chances your children might become better, kinder human beings, and trust they can instead spend their lives staring at screens, leaving things on the floor and responding to attempts at conversation with remarks like, “Mmm. He’s doing one of his funnies”.I think that was the idea anyway. Looking back, the original instructions seem quite vague. It could have been the other way round. Passing on the virtues....
Touré was meant to be finished, exiled, a rusting hulk junked for parts. In the last month he has instead been the key figure in City’s mini-revivalYou might not have seen the current Star Wars movie. In which case I won’t ruin it by revealing any top-secret plot twists, like the imperial weapon‑shield with one small fatal flaw; the return of a bullish, roided-up Darth Vader; or the usual mawkish family stuff that can only be resolved by the violent death of a male parent.Aside from that you’ll find all the usual things. Infomercial-level acting that doesn’t matter because there are some excellent “fffft” and “zzzzz” weapon noises going on in the background. Good bits where stormtroopers make crackly 1950s‑style...
Touré’s treatment at Manchester City is regarded by Dimitri Seluk as a declaration of hostilities but Guardiola is winning matches, hearts and public relations warsDimitri Seluk is right about one thing, and perhaps only one thing. Pep Guardiola is the king of Manchester at the moment, operating from a position of strength.So if Yaya Touré’s agent sees the treatment of his client as a declaration of war, and prefers to fight back rather than make the necessary conciliatory gestures that might see the sidelined Ivorian pull on a Manchester City shirt again, he must accept that his situation is strategically weak, bordering on hopeless. Guardiola is occupying the high ground. Related: Guardiola says Touré will not play for Manchester City...