Arsenal failed to sign 'next Patrick Vieira' after six-month trial due to paperwork issue
Arsene Wenger has been open when revealing the host of talent he missed out on signing for Arsenal including the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale
Arsene Wenger could have fielded an all-conquering midfield of Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure – but paperwork troubles scuppered the chance to sign the Ivorian icon. Nearing the end of the Frenchman's legendary career in north London, Toure went on a six-month trial with the Gunners in 2003.
Having spent two years at Belgian side Beveren, the then-20-year-old Toure had impressed the legendary Arsenal boss and was nearing a contract. However talks were halted due to Toure not having a European passport.
Hoping to join his brother Kolo, who signed for the Premier League giants the year before after earning a deal through his own trial, it wasn't meant to be for the younger Toure sibling.
The former midfielder went on to sign for Metalurh Donetsk before enjoying stints at Olympiacos and Monaco. He got the first big move of his career when signing for Barcelona in 2007. A key member of Pep Guardiola's impressive side in 2009, Toure was allowed to leave the Nou Camp in 2010 and signed for the Citizens in a £24million transfer.
Yaya Touré appeared on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, presented by Qatar Airways
Regarded as one of City's greatest ever players, Toure scored 79 goals in 316 games for the club and won three league titles, two League Cup's, and one FA Cup triumph. Discussing his near move to Arsenal on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Toure admitted that he was coined the "new Patrick Vieira" by his older brother as he detailed what transpired after his trial.
"Yeah, no, because in the beginning, I think the problem was the paperwork because at that time, when I remember, it was... You have to play 75% in the national team if you don't have the passport, European passport, or you have to have a European passport to play in England and that was the path," he said when asked by Ferdinand why Wenger didn't sign him.
"Arsene was willing to let me go back to Belgium to carry on for, I think, one more year or two years to get the Belgian passport because at that time, I was not playing in the national team, A team."
A brutal blow for Toure was that he earned his first international cap for Ivory Coast just a year after his trial. He revealed the frustration he felt from the failed move and having to ply his trade in Ukraine.
"And in my mind, I was like, it's time for me to go abroad, test myself and try something different," he explained. "And it was from that period, I've been sold to Ukraine. And that's when I started to get a bit frustrated because for me, it was a bit of a fail because I didn't make it, but in the end, it was that difficult because my mind was divided.
"I didn't want to get a passport. To get it, I wanted to be able as well to play for my national team. At that time, I was very young. I was a very inexperienced."
The frustration may have well spurned him on to have the illustrious career he went on to enjoy, as Toure amassed a glittering trophy cabinet replete with honours across spells at Olympiacos, Barcelona and City.
Listen to the full Rio Meets Yaya Touré interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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