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Wenger Confirms He “Had An Agreement” To Sign Powerhouse Midfielder

By on March 28, 2014

It’s a story that will forever haunt Arsene Wenger and Arsenal fans, but the boss has been recalling the time he almost signed Yaya Toure.

The Manchester City midfielder came close to joining the club over 10 years ago when he had a successful trial and even played in a friendly against Barnet in the summer of 2003.

Wenger was so impressed he quickly came to an agreement with the player and set about trying to seal a work permit for him to be eligible to play in the UK.

However, the move collapsed when it become apparent that Toure would have to go out on loan to Belgium for at least a year before he could play for us, so the Ivory Coast midfielder decided to head to Ukraine where he didn’t need an EU passport.

Arsene has described missing out on Toure’s signature as his biggest transfer regret, but insists he did everything he could to bring the player to Arsenal.

He told Arsenal.com.

“It would be up at the top [of my list of regrets],” he said. “But let’s not forget that Yaya Toure had an agreement with us – and it’s not because we did not want to sign him that he went to Ukraine.

“We needed to wait for his passport in Belgium. We have made mistakes but he is not a mistake, it’s just the fact that he preferred to go to Metalurh Donetsk. He could go there without any passport.”

Of course Toure went on to play for Barcelona before joining City where he’s been tearing up the Premier League, showing us exactly what we missed out on, and he scored his 21st goal of the season against Man Utd on Tuesday.

All clubs come close to signing players and have regrets, but along with Cristiano Ronaldo, I think Toure is the one I am personally frustrated about. He could have been a great at Arsenal and would have filled the physical void that was left in the middle of the park when Patrick Vieira was sold.

Oh well, let’s just hope we find a way to stop him on Saturday….

11 Comments

  1. rellends

    March 28, 2014 at 12:47 pm

    even if we’d signed him he’d still be at man city now. he’d have been brilliant for us then taken the tried and tested route to barcelona from where he would have been sold to man city 2-3 seasons later.

  2. zimgooner

    March 28, 2014 at 12:57 pm

    We would have lost him the same way we lost all the other stars. our club has turned out to b a supermarket (from where those with money buy)

  3. raul dmellow

    March 28, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    Man of all the players. Yaya toure. Now I feel more pain than ever. Forget that. If david dein was thr. We wud easily have signed gonzalo higuian. David dein and arsene wenger were a good combination.

  4. mystic

    March 28, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    I was at that Barnet friendly and believe me the Yaya we see today is very different to the one we Arsenal fans had to endure that day.

    Before any one decries me as a Wenger apologist, I am not, I think the manager has lost his way and needs to leave. But missing out on Yaya years back in hindsight was a pain, but I can’t say back them I would have been overwhelmed had he brought him on board.

  5. Waziri sagir

    March 28, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    Wanger, the bigotry of reminding us wat u missed, wen u failed to sign YAya Toure. ps tell us how U ar going to cope with the incredebile versatility of yaya Toure.
    ;

  6. Mr Victor arsenal

    March 29, 2014 at 5:59 am

    Wenger should leave arsenal for us, we are tired of stories everyday, gunners 4 life

  7. James

    March 29, 2014 at 7:45 am

    Its not new that he is saying this now. N besides great players have come wanting to play for us, Wenger is too short sighted n never saw anytin gud in them i think dats wat is huntin us now. Wenger neglegence.

  8. Mohamed Swaray

    March 29, 2014 at 7:50 am

    The current problem of our team is the lack of a holding midfielder & a stricker. Wenger should try to address this come next season, failure to address this will lead us to another frustrating season

  9. Sampson knight

    March 29, 2014 at 9:22 am

    Fellow gunnerz,i don’t like all this excuses am alwayz reading everyday,d only solutn,z 2 show wenga d exit door,he has tried

  10. Abdul

    March 29, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    Atleast adraw not so bad 4 me coz i was expectng to lose.

  11. GoonerOldBoy

    March 30, 2014 at 10:44 am

    Wenger deserves his chance, finally we are getting a transfer budget. How many of you guys ‘been away’? That’s old school talk for supporting you team at away games. Before you mouth of your opinion attend the away games first. Plastic fans cap fits wear it…

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