Senin, 21 Desember 2009
African Comment: Ungrateful Barcelona May Lose Yaya Toure?
Posted on 20.08 by the jack
There is no doubt that Barcelona and Chelsea are two of the most popular European clubs in sub-Saharan Africa.
This is in huge part because of the effective presence of some African players – the likes of Samuel Eto’o making Barca popular before his transfer to Inter, while Didier Drogba and Michel Essien increase Chelsea's appeal.
When Eto'o left Barcelona at the beginning of this season, he obviously did so with a good number of African Barca fans in tow. Their love for the Spanish club relocated to Inter Milan.
This transfer of affection did not simply take place due to Eto'o's move. It was in fact because many African fans felt Barcelona was ungrateful to Eto'o and his achievements, by pushing him out to Italy in an "undignified" swap deal with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Eto'o was visibly satisfied with his new contract but some of his fans who loved him as well as Barça were furious at the club for putting 43.5 million Euros (£37.6 million) on top of Eto’o to get Ibrahimovic, whom they see as no greater than their Sammy or Pichinchin.
And now, Barcelona is looking for more trouble and might lose more of its sub-Saharan African fans as the Yaya Toure saga rolls on.
The Ivorian Barcelona midfielder told the BBC Sport on Saturday that he is unhappy with his club because he is being underused.
“I am a strong person and I can play 30 or 25 games, but when I only play five or 10 games I’m not so happy about that,” Toure said.
And this is turning rumours into reality in the Ivory Coast that Toure is getting fed up with his club. “Run now before they jilt you like Eto’o,” Ivorian fans would say each time they gossip about Toure.
Bother yourselves no more, fans: the boy is warming up to shoot elsewhere.
“I’m flattered by the interest from clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City. I’m very happy because they are big teams. Let’s see what they will bring forth. But for me, the most important thing is that I want to play everyday,” Toure revealed to the BBC Sport.
However, his heart seems to lean towards City, not just because “they have signed big players and have a lot of ambition,” but because of his elder brother, Kolo Toure, who captains City.
“It’s my dream to play with my brother in the same team, but only God knows how tomorrow will look like,” he said.
With rumours abounding that Kolo is looking for a move of his own, perhaps the pair's reunion will be more distant than first thought. But regardless, Barcelona would do well to remember that Toure isn't just one man. He carries with him the dreams of millions.
This is in huge part because of the effective presence of some African players – the likes of Samuel Eto’o making Barca popular before his transfer to Inter, while Didier Drogba and Michel Essien increase Chelsea's appeal.
When Eto'o left Barcelona at the beginning of this season, he obviously did so with a good number of African Barca fans in tow. Their love for the Spanish club relocated to Inter Milan.
This transfer of affection did not simply take place due to Eto'o's move. It was in fact because many African fans felt Barcelona was ungrateful to Eto'o and his achievements, by pushing him out to Italy in an "undignified" swap deal with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Eto'o was visibly satisfied with his new contract but some of his fans who loved him as well as Barça were furious at the club for putting 43.5 million Euros (£37.6 million) on top of Eto’o to get Ibrahimovic, whom they see as no greater than their Sammy or Pichinchin.
And now, Barcelona is looking for more trouble and might lose more of its sub-Saharan African fans as the Yaya Toure saga rolls on.
The Ivorian Barcelona midfielder told the BBC Sport on Saturday that he is unhappy with his club because he is being underused.
“I am a strong person and I can play 30 or 25 games, but when I only play five or 10 games I’m not so happy about that,” Toure said.
And this is turning rumours into reality in the Ivory Coast that Toure is getting fed up with his club. “Run now before they jilt you like Eto’o,” Ivorian fans would say each time they gossip about Toure.
Bother yourselves no more, fans: the boy is warming up to shoot elsewhere.
“I’m flattered by the interest from clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City. I’m very happy because they are big teams. Let’s see what they will bring forth. But for me, the most important thing is that I want to play everyday,” Toure revealed to the BBC Sport.
However, his heart seems to lean towards City, not just because “they have signed big players and have a lot of ambition,” but because of his elder brother, Kolo Toure, who captains City.
“It’s my dream to play with my brother in the same team, but only God knows how tomorrow will look like,” he said.
With rumours abounding that Kolo is looking for a move of his own, perhaps the pair's reunion will be more distant than first thought. But regardless, Barcelona would do well to remember that Toure isn't just one man. He carries with him the dreams of millions.
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