Arsenal Were Desperate To Keep Me - Kolo Toure

limpper SG

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger chose to sell Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure to Manchester City to break up an African clique inside the dressing room, it has been revealed.

The Observer says there is something ruthlessly strategic about his willingness to do business on Adebayor, Touré, and in all probability Eboué, who capered through a half of Arsenal's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid. In one fell swoop, it diffuses the three major areas of conflict within the camp.

The tension between Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner has never been particularly helpful. Then there is the mutual appreciation society involving Touré and William Gallas, which manifested itself in a winter crisis that saw the Frenchman stripped of the captaincy and the Ivorian slapping in a transfer request. Eboué's discord is rather more general, considering he managed to alienate the club's fans, who turned on him last term.

Adebayor, Touré and Eboué led a clique inside the dressing room, with Alexandre Song the junior partner. It is natural that men from a similar cultural background should connect and spend time in each other's company, but at times the group seemed a little too exclusive for comfort.

Song, easily the most improved performer at the club last season, is not seen as expendable by Wenger, but he is likely to be the only survivor.

zocoss SG

Toure explain that, he did not see a future at Arsenal. “They want to use you as long as they can and then they have a plan to move players on,”

Manchester City’s latest recruit, Kolo Toure, has revealed that former side Arsenal were desperate for him to stay at the Emirates.

The Ivory Coast international has swapped London for Manchester in a £16 million deal and becomes the latest player to join the revolution at Eastlands.

However, speaking to the News of the World, the 28-year-old admitted that if manager Arsene Wenger had his way, Toure would still be a Gunner.

"He tried to pressure me to stay but I told him I wanted to move,” explained the defender. “It was the right time for me because maybe when I hit a certain age they would want me to go.”

Toure also went on to explain that, in his opinion, he did not see much of a future for himself at Arsenal in any case. “They want to use you as long as they can and then they have a plan to move players on,” he said.

“I've a plan as well and that's what I've followed.” The defender made his City debut yesterday in a 1-1 friendly draw away to Barnsley. However, Toure lasted only an hour of the game after being forced off with an ankle injury.

limpper SG

i dont buy this lar

Y_Shun SG

WAHAHAH

I am right that Wenger wants to disposs the blackies of the team.... and guess what? Toure, Adebayor and Eboue the same clique.

Song very lucky to set the lines between them....! but hey, I didn't see Song for the preseason for Arsenal...

ViNnO SG

Lol like tevez whinning... got man city financial backing liao, act like pro kia.

zocoss SG

Arsenal have a habit of selling their players when they are reaching 30 or reach 30. So somehow in the mind of Toure, its better for him to go now than wait in 2 season's time, Arsenal will get rid of him and he won't be getting $120k per week for the next 4 yrs...

Look at Henry, Vieira, Pires, Lauren, Ljungberg and Campbell... All of them were still able but got ship out no sooner so as to recover some money... Apart from Campbell who could have got a new and longer contract as he wanted but they didn't offer it to him, instead only offering year by year like what happened with Pires too which he rejected.

So those smart ones will leave by 27, 28 for better paid and longer contracts like Flamini, Hleb and now Toure... Toure is a good example, cos during those years when he see senior players who have done so much for the club getting kick-out, he probably didn't think much of it as he was only 22, 23, 24... But today at 28, he knows it could happen to him too very soon.

Arsenal's policy will start their players thinking if they should stay when they all reach 27, 28... The club have shown they don't want you when you reach that age, so if an opportunity comes along, better take it like Toure who will now get $100k to120k, more than twice his Arsenal pay for the next 4 yrs... If he stays, in 2 yrs time they move him out to a lower club, he will have to settle for lesser than his $50k to $60k Arsenal pay...

A few years back they started this get rid of policy and now, it seems, its coming back to haunt them... Current players will view it as the club doesn't reward past players for their loyalty and contributions, so why should they even bother to be faithful to it?

reyes SG

most players in arsenal team are probably using arsenal as a stepping stone to bigger teams who can pay bigger salary.

i dont blame toure, adabayor. arsenel are not team that can win trophy nor pay big salary, so why stay? if i am pro players, i would go for at least either one.

AEW5001 SG

only e Arsenal club wants to keep u.

not their fans.