Manchester City and Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure is on the verge of a shock switch to Saudi Professional League strugglers Damac, according to reports.
Toure, 36, earned a reputation as one of the game’s premier midfielders when at clubs such as Monaco, Barcelona and City. The serial trophy winner is now available on a free transfer in the wake of his release from China League One champions Qingdao Huanghai.
This lack of attachment, allied with a cruciate ligament injury for Brazilian playmaker Rafael Costa, has opened up the possibility of a late-season move to the promoted side. Al Riyadiah newspaper has stated that “serious negotiations” are under way with the man who won seven major trophies and notched 79 goals in 316 City run-outs from 2010-18.
Damac are allowed to snap up a replacement for the waylaid Costa in their seven-player foreign quota, while Toure is eligible to be registered because his exit occurred inside the winter transfer window.
The African superstar scored twice in 14 appearances last year when Qjngdao secured promotion to the Chinese Super League. His prospective employers sit second bottom in the Kingdom and will hope their potential big-name new addition can prevent an instant return to Prince Mohammad bin Salman League.
