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International Blues: Yaya Toure back for Ivory Coast…or is he?

By Jason Bardwell

FORTALEZA, BRAZIL - JUNE 24: Yaya Toure of the Ivory Coast controls the ball against Dimitris Salpingidis of Greece during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group C match between Greece and the Ivory Coast at Castelao on June 24, 2014 in Fortaleza, Brazil. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
FORTALEZA, BRAZIL - JUNE 24: Yaya Toure of the Ivory Coast controls the ball against Dimitris Salpingidis of Greece during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group C match between Greece and the Ivory Coast at Castelao on June 24, 2014 in Fortaleza, Brazil. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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However sad the farewell to Joe Hart is at the end of the season, it will be so much easier now we have Ederson in between the sticks. After winning the Carabao Cup, and with one hand on the Premier League, a good run in the Champions League will prove Guardiola right to drop Hart.

Add to that the fact he has been away from the club. We don’t see him sitting on the bench, well ours at least. For Yaya Toure though, the separation is becoming increasingly tougher. We will always remember the FA Cup Semi Final goal against United to get us to our first Cup Final since 1981.

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In fact that Final came two years before Yaya Toure was born. City lost to a Ricky Villa led Spurs side when Kolo was an only child! It was Kolo who joined City first, with Yaya following shortly afterwards. The Ivorian then put his name firmly in the City history books by scoring the winner in the FA Cup Final.

Yes there were incidents to taint his legacy at City, the lack of birthday cake to name but a few. This season was meant to be a last parade of the Ivorian hero, but it didn’t start that well. Out of favor early on with Pep Guardiola due to his agents remarks.

Eventually he did apologise and return, although he was used sparingly. To be fair, even when he was chosen to play, he looked a shadow of the player we know. As Goyte said, now he’s just somebody we used to know.

In September 2016 he announced his retirement from International football. At 100 caps, and representing his country for well over a decade, it seemed the right decision for Toure. Recently, though, he has decided to make himself available for his country again.

However, while his countrymen are training in France, and getting ready for friendlies against Togo and Moldova, Toure is a no show. Before everyone jumps on his back though, I think you have to weigh in his mental state.

Next: Yaya Toure: Elephants Captain To Return

His career is coming to end, certainly the successful part, and he will likely not be given another Premier League winners medal. More than that though was the death of his brother, Ibrahim. Yes that was a few years ago, but it was also while he was away in the last World Cup in Brazil.

While he and Kolo were away representing their country, the youngest Toure lost his battle with cancer. Maybe Yaya thought he had moved past that but as it got closer to meeting up with the team again maybe memories returned.  Sure, the country is not going to participate in the upcoming World Cup, but it could still bring memories to the fore.

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