Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has disclosed that he nearly joined Arsenal in 2003 under legendary manager Arsene Wenger.
Toure, who would later become one of the Premier League’s most influential midfielders, was still at the early stage of his professional career at the time. According to the Ivorian, Arsenal were interested in signing him during Wenger’s reign.
The move, however, failed to materialise, meaning Toure continued his development elsewhere before eventually making his way to top-level European football.
His career later took him to several clubs, including Barcelona and Manchester City, where he established himself as one of the finest midfielders of his generation. At City, he played a major role in the club’s rise to prominence and helped them win multiple major trophies.
Toure’s revelation offers an interesting glimpse into what might have been had Arsenal completed the deal more than two decades ago.
Wenger was renowned for identifying young talent and developing players into stars, and Toure could potentially have been another notable success story under the Frenchman.
Instead, the midfielder went on to create his own legacy elsewhere, particularly during his hugely successful spell at Manchester City.
