Yaya Toure Should Be Brought In from the Cold at Manchester City

There’s a real danger that Yaya Toure isn’t going to be remembered for his legacy on the pitch at Manchester City.

The meat and drink of the Ivorian’s career has been with the Premier League club, and he was one of the leading figures in their transformation from also-rans to title winners and Champions League regulars. Nevertheless, a cloud of off-the-pitch misdemeanours is hanging over everything he’s achieved.

It’s all well and good that he scored the winner in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at a time when City were trying to usurp their neighbours in English football. He went on to net the winner in the final that season, as the club lifted its first major trophy in 35 years.

A crucial double from Toure secured a 2-0 victory at Newcastle in 2012 and saw City put one hand on the top-flight title after not having won it in 44 years.

ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images

The Ivorian turned around the 2014 League Cup final. His spectacular goal from nothing pulled City level in a match that underdogs Sunderland had been leading for some time and was the catalyst that got Manuel Pellegrini’s team onto the front foot. They went on to win, 3-1.

That 2013-14 season saw Toure score 20 goals from central midfield. Only Frank Lampard has ever bettered that tally from that position, scoring 22 times in 2009-10. The Ivorian’s goals helped power City to their second title in three years, as they took advantage when Liverpool faltered.

To top it all off, he then scored the winning penalty in the 2016 League Cup final—though few can argue that goalkeeper Willy Caballero wasn’t the real hero of that afternoon with three stops in the shootout.

Despite being a clear driving force behind the club over the last six years, Toure is often thought of as a troublemaker. The infamous “Cake-Gate”, which followed his second Premier League title, left a sour taste in a lot of mouths, as the Ivorian’s agent claimed he’d been disrespected on his birthday (h/t Mark Ogden).

SCOTT HEPPELL/Associated Press

That was swept under the carpet, and he continued to pull on a blue shirt for two more seasons, but his performances were markedly worse. It was probably nothing more than a coincidence given his age, but his game wasn’t as explosive as it once was.

He continued to control matches with his passing range and influence, but a lack of marauding runs—which were, in fairness, only a small part of his style of play initially—left many questioning whether he was too long in the tooth for City.

It’s often forgotten that all that happened at the same time as he was dealing with the tragic death of his brother, Ibrahim.

When it was announced that Pep Guardiola would be taking charge of the club, it was widely speculated that it would be the end for Toure at City. The Catalan manager is someone who looks to the future, disregarding legacies and previous performances, taking into account what a player can achieve for his team in the here-and-now.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The likes of Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto’o, all dropped from the Barcelona squad when Guardiola made his stamp on the team there, can attest to that. It probably didn’t help the speculation that it was Guardiola who sold Toure to City in the first place, too.

When Joe Hart, the established No. 1 at the club before Guardiola’s arrival, was left out and then allowed to leave on loan, the noises from all parties involved were very grown-up. However, in comparison, Toure’s representative Dmitri Seluk demanded an apology when his client was left out of the Champions League squad ahead of the playoff-round ties with Steaua Bucharest, saying his client had felt “humiliated,” per Andy Hampson of the Independent.

Guardiola insisted Toure would not be picked by City until he got an apology for the outburst. With the standoff seemingly at an impasse, the Ivorian took matters into his own hands on Friday and issued a statement on his Facebook page. He said the previous comments didn’t reflect his views of the club and its staff and that he was sorry on behalf of himself and those who represent him.

Ahead of the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday, Guardiola seemed receptive to the statement in his pre-match press conference, per ESPNFC’s Jonathan Smith: “I have spoken with Yaya today. Of course, it was a private conversation. I know what happened, what he said, of course. It’s good news for Manchester City—that's the most important thing—and for Yaya, whom I appreciate. I have known him from a long time ago.” 

Seluk, however, seems to have no intention of backing down, according to talkSPORT:

"

I'm not apologising. We want peace, but I'm not apologising. Apologise for what? Maybe Toure has apologised for this, but I don't know for what. I think Yaya don't mean this. He wants peace between him Guardiola. ...

Guardiola must now do the next step, because we make a step from our side to make peace.

Yaya has won two titles and this team is in his heart. He is a legend in the history of this club. Now we say nothing. We’ve made our steps now and we will see what Guardiola will do.”

"

Despite that, the Ivorian is available for selection again. He’s clearly not a first-team starter anymore, having fallen behind the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho in the centre of midfield, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be a useful option for the manager.

City are crying out for a player who can finish chances. In each of their last three home Premier League matches, Guardiola’s side have created a plethora of opportunities that have all gone to waste. Toure, while no longer the box-to-box sprinter he once was, is still someone who can play in behind the likes of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne, feeding off the scraps that are left in the box.

What’s more, City have been desperate for someone who can change a game with a goal from range. The fans have been growing increasingly frustrated that nobody seems willing to take a long shot, with the likes of De Bruyne and David Silva looking for team-mates when they’re outside the area instead.

Others—such as Fernandinho and Aleksandar Kolarov—are more willing, but there’s none better at finding the net from distance than Toure. 

When Lampard joined City for his Premier League swan song in 2014-15, it was obvious that the midfielder was no longer able to get up and down the pitch like he used to. However, Pellegrini selected him diplomatically, and the former England international scored eight times that season, earning his club some vital points.

There’s no reason to suggest Toure couldn’t do something similar. His contract expires at the end of the current campaign, so rather than being left out of the squad and spending another six-and-a-bit months in the wilderness, why not play a small but active role in the first team?

He could change a game coming off the bench around the 70-minute mark. He could have been the influence on the match with Middlesbrough who took one of City's many chances or even stopped the visitors seeing more of the ball—his pace may have gone, but his touch, intelligence and passing ability hasn't deserted him.

Whether or not Guardiola chooses to use him is another matter. But if all sides are willing, there are only benefits to having the Ivorian available for selection again.