If I were to attribute City’s success this season to a single player, it would have to be Yaya Toure. The Ivorian has been clinical this season, scoring 20 goals, and being the best box-to-box player there was on the pitch this season.
However, if you’ve been reading the papers, it seems that he hasn’t been his usual self of late - a series of instances just blemish his reputation.
Nevertheless, I’ll just give you a backdrop of what happened - his agent, Dmitri Seluk, told in an interview that he wasn’t wished on his birthday by higher authorities at the club, presumably by Sheikh Mansour himself. This, apparently irked the Ivorian, and would possibly re-think his future at the club because of it.
In a series of events that followed later, Yaya clarified on Twitter that he had indeed been wished for his birthday, with a card and a cake (quite conveniently co-incidentally; this came hours after City posted pictures of his birthday cake and card on Twitter).
Now, the real story behind this, no doubt, he has been the driving force for City this season. So, leading them to the cup, Toure counted himself as one of the world’s top players - amongst Messi, Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Suarez - the likes. And few would doubt with him too on this issue. But being one of the world’s best, he thought he should get some recognition for his exploits this season, which basically means to be paid more. He wanted a fatter pay check, and a coaching job at the Etihad after he retires, much like what Zidane has done.
Let me put some things into perspective here. Yaya is already the second-most paid footballer in the whole of England, after Wayne Rooney. His contract runs handsomely for another three years, and the last time he got an extension, his agent Saluk threw some tantrums, saying he isn’t respected enough by the club.
Hush hush, so much to crib about. Let me give you my own opinion about this saga.
Stupidly, stupidity everywhere. Haven’t you ever wished for a pay raise? So does our beloved Yaya Toure - nothing wrong with that. But if you want to make a mess of it and show to the world how big of an attention whore you are, then it isn’t done. It isn’t even personal, but he has dragged everyone into this mess - Pellegrini, the Sheikh, even the supporting staff at City. He has made his intentions clear.
City fans have always loved him, because for us, he isn’t only a player, he’s a part of an extended family. It’s not only him, but others such as Hart, Kompany, Aguero, even Dzeko; they all respect the fans, and the fans reciprocate that with more respect and love. City fans have been standing up against the racist chants and accusations against our beloved “tank”. But this whole new cribbing about 'not being wished on my birthday properly' is just a new low for a player of his calibre. Or for any player, that is.
Nevertheless, I’ll just give you a backdrop of what happened - his agent, Dmitri Seluk, told in an interview that he wasn’t wished on his birthday by higher authorities at the club, presumably by Sheikh Mansour himself. This, apparently irked the Ivorian, and would possibly re-think his future at the club because of it.
In a series of events that followed later, Yaya clarified on Twitter that he had indeed been wished for his birthday, with a card and a cake (quite conveniently co-incidentally; this came hours after City posted pictures of his birthday cake and card on Twitter).
Now, the real story behind this, no doubt, he has been the driving force for City this season. So, leading them to the cup, Toure counted himself as one of the world’s top players - amongst Messi, Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Suarez - the likes. And few would doubt with him too on this issue. But being one of the world’s best, he thought he should get some recognition for his exploits this season, which basically means to be paid more. He wanted a fatter pay check, and a coaching job at the Etihad after he retires, much like what Zidane has done.
Let me put some things into perspective here. Yaya is already the second-most paid footballer in the whole of England, after Wayne Rooney. His contract runs handsomely for another three years, and the last time he got an extension, his agent Saluk threw some tantrums, saying he isn’t respected enough by the club.
Hush hush, so much to crib about. Let me give you my own opinion about this saga.
Stupidly, stupidity everywhere. Haven’t you ever wished for a pay raise? So does our beloved Yaya Toure - nothing wrong with that. But if you want to make a mess of it and show to the world how big of an attention whore you are, then it isn’t done. It isn’t even personal, but he has dragged everyone into this mess - Pellegrini, the Sheikh, even the supporting staff at City. He has made his intentions clear.
City fans have always loved him, because for us, he isn’t only a player, he’s a part of an extended family. It’s not only him, but others such as Hart, Kompany, Aguero, even Dzeko; they all respect the fans, and the fans reciprocate that with more respect and love. City fans have been standing up against the racist chants and accusations against our beloved “tank”. But this whole new cribbing about 'not being wished on my birthday properly' is just a new low for a player of his calibre. Or for any player, that is.
You want a bloody pay-raise? Ask for it! Don’t make such a big issue out of it.
Anyhow, City should have had enough of it anyway. They should firmly tell him that with three years left, he won’t be offered a new contract. Any of his tantrums won’t work - no player is bigger than the club. Tell him to get his act together. And if all this doesn’t work? Tell him to scuttle off to Barcelona or PSG or whichever club is offering him higher wages.
At 31, he barely has any resale value. So I’d be delighted if Barca took him for anything above 20 million pounds, or in an exchange deal for either Fabregas or Busquets. I would love for City to tell Toure on his face that a contract extension was not on the cards, and a coaching job could be discussed at a later phase in his career.
But don’t get me wrong - I still want him to be at the Etihad for the next three seasons, and perhaps more. But for a player who said, “Judge me when I leave the club”, when he joined the club, it surely leaves no real judgement as of now.
-Mister GoogleHead (Follow on Twitter @Mr_GoogleHead)
Anyhow, City should have had enough of it anyway. They should firmly tell him that with three years left, he won’t be offered a new contract. Any of his tantrums won’t work - no player is bigger than the club. Tell him to get his act together. And if all this doesn’t work? Tell him to scuttle off to Barcelona or PSG or whichever club is offering him higher wages.
At 31, he barely has any resale value. So I’d be delighted if Barca took him for anything above 20 million pounds, or in an exchange deal for either Fabregas or Busquets. I would love for City to tell Toure on his face that a contract extension was not on the cards, and a coaching job could be discussed at a later phase in his career.
But don’t get me wrong - I still want him to be at the Etihad for the next three seasons, and perhaps more. But for a player who said, “Judge me when I leave the club”, when he joined the club, it surely leaves no real judgement as of now.
-Mister GoogleHead (Follow on Twitter @Mr_GoogleHead)