There are confidences that mark, especially when they come from a legend of modern football. Yaya Touré, former emblematic environment of Manchester City, surprised her world by publicly admitting her greatest regret in career. However, the native of Bouaké won almost everything in the Skyblue jersey, by stacking titles and memorable performance in the Premier League. But behind this dream journey hides a deep feeling of unfinished.
A broken dream from the Gunners
On the occasion of a passage in the podcast Obi Onethe Ivorian revealed that he had always fed a secret dream: one day wearing the arsenal jersey. A dream that could have become reality very early, during a promising essay with the Gunners. Then sharing the locker room with his idol Patrick Vieira, Touré had been seduced by the atmosphere of the club and the unique atmosphere of Highbury.
“When I visited the stadium, I said to myself: one day, I have to play here”, he said with emotion.
But fate has decided otherwise. At the time, the absence of a European passport and the lack of selections in the national team barred the road to London. A blow that the old Citizens does not hide:
“I did not have 75% of matches played with Côte d'Ivoire, I could not obtain the work permit. I was really sad ”, he confessed. Thus, the dream of evolving under the orders of Arsène Wenger died before even starting.
The weight of an administrative failure
If he has never worn the colors of Arsenal, Yaya Touré still built an exceptional career, especially in Manchester City where he won three titles of champion of England. But this anecdote recalls how much successful trajectories, even crowned with success, are sometimes punctuated by unfulfilled dreams.
Finally, this confession shows us that behind each brilliant list hides a part of secret history. And in that of Yaya Touré, Arsenal will forever remain the missed opportunity of a career, however masterful.
