Kolo Toure says Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is among the world’s top players in his position and still has a big role to play for Pep Guardiola’s side, despite his age.
The elder Toure, who is still a free agent after being released by Celtic at the end of last season, said of younger brother Yaya: “He’s always been one of the best midfielders in the world. I was saying that when he was playing in Ukraine, but nobody was listening to me!
“I think he can still play a really key role in this Man City team. At passing, he’s one of the best in the world. He can break lines, start attacks from the back.
“If there’s a runner around him who can fight for the ball and give him the ball, Yaya can just be the maestro from the back.”
Toure added that former Man City team-mate Sergio Aguero is still undoubtedly a top striker, but said that the Argentine was used to being the main man until Gabriel Jesus’ arrival last season, and he would have to adapt to needing to compete for his place.
The Ivorian defender also had words of sympathy for former manager Arsene Wenger after Arsenal’s poor start to the season, saying there is bound to be pressure at a club of Arsenal’s stature, especially with such a long drought in terms of league titles.
“When you’re a manager of a club like Arsenal and you don’t win the league trophy for such a long time, you will always have pressure,” the former Gunners defender said.
“Wenger has experience. He wants the best for the club, that’s all I know.
“When things start going wrong, that makes it really difficult for him. The players can feel that as well. If anything happens, they know it’s going to be a big problem the next day, and that’s quite difficult.
“But Mr. Wenger is very strong mentally, he will do the best he can. He loves the club.”
