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Yaya Toure: Ivory Coast return?

By Jason Bardwell

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - MARCH 05: Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast looks on prior to the International Friendly match between Belgium and Ivory Coast at The King Baudouin Stadium on March 5, 2014 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - MARCH 05: Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast looks on prior to the International Friendly match between Belgium and Ivory Coast at The King Baudouin Stadium on March 5, 2014 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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Ask any Manchester City fan from the last decade, and you would be hard pressed to find one who would be surprised by Yaya Toure. Some of the statements coming out of his camp, mostly via his agent over the seasons, have been incredible.

From the unhappiness due to a lack of birthday cake to the feud last season, which saw the Ivorian frozen out of Pep Guardiola’s City side, the patience of fans have been tested. So, when there was ‘breaking news’ followed by a picture of Yaya Toure, I had to sit down before going any further.

This time though, it really doesn’t involve Manchester City as much as other ‘announcements’ from the Ivorian. Yaya Toure, a year after announcing his International retirement a little over a year ago, now aged 34, has made himself available again for selection.

His brother, Kolo, has taken an Assistant Manager role for Les Éléphants, who will not be going to the World Cup in 2018. Yaya Toure had expressed fears over the level of racism players would have to face in Russia, and even offered his services to FIFA and the Russian Government. Clearly that offer was rejected and now Toure is looking for his place in football once more.

When a player, of any sport, comes to the final days of their playing career there is always that danger. The danger is that they go on too long and taint their legacy. Or maybe they just fall into oblivion, without having figured out their next role.

There is no doubting, or arguing, that Yaya was pivotal in our clubs success, particularly under Roberto Mancini. It was his goal in the Semi Final of the FA Cup against Manchester United which saw us get to the Final. Another goal in the Final won it, and with that Cup opened the flood gates for more.

Two Premier Leagues, two League Cups and an FA Cup later (A Community Shield also, but that’s Mickey Mouse!) and Yaya has started to slide out of the picture. Last season was the lowest appearances, in a season, for Yaya Toure since his time at Monaco. This season, he has been used even less frequently, appearing in only a handful of City games so far.

How much of this latest announcement is to do with the lack of playing time for City? Again, his agent has come out to say he is going nowhere in January. But can you really get selected for your National side, at his age, and not be playing week in and week out?

Next: Aguero: Will He Stay Or Will He Go?

Manchester City did offer the Ivorian a year extension to his contract, which he signed in the summer. That means at the end of the season he will be free to go, and for him I think he should walk away. Talk was that he might follow Patrick Vieira across the pond to a new start in the MLS.

As a player I think that is dangerous, and could taint his legacy. I would love to see him join the staff at NYCFC and learn that aspect of the business because I think he has more to offer the sport, even if it isn’t on the field.