The word “legend” is often overused in football today, but Manchester City has indeed had many legendary players in recent years.
While significant investments have been made in top talent during the Sheikh Mansour era, as seen with other teams, spending money doesn’t guarantee success. Players must perform.
Many City signings have become key contributors, including Vincent Kompany, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero, who were crucial in leading the club to domestic and European success.
This iconic trio is rightly honored with statues at the Etihad Stadium, symbols of a golden age for Manchester City.
Yaya Toure, another pivotal figure from the early 2010s, hasn’t received similar recognition, which is surprising, as he himself has noted. His impact at his peak was undeniable.
Yaya Toure’s Peak at Man City
Joining from Barcelona in 2010 as a defensive midfielder or centre-back option, Toure evolved into a dominant attacking force.
He ignited City’s trophy run by scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final against Stoke City and also scored in the 2014 League Cup final. Toure was a powerhouse, blending physicality and technical skill.
The 2013/14 season highlighted his quality, with Toure scoring 20 league goals and providing nine assists as Manuel Pellegrini’s team narrowly won the title over Liverpool.
While he may not have consistently replicated that peak, as former teammate Joleon Lescott mentioned, few could match Toure in his prime.
Under Pep Guardiola, City has reached new heights since Toure’s departure in 2018. He scored 125 goals and assists in 380 appearances for the club and remains a unique talent and a true City legend.
Interestingly, despite Toure’s uniqueness, Manchester City may have let go of a player who could have been his successor.
Man City Already Sold the Next Yaya Toure
Man City’s academy is producing top young players, with Phil Foden and Rico Lewis breaking into the first team, while others like Cole Palmer and Liam Delap have sought opportunities elsewhere.
Darko Gyabi, a 21-year-old England youth international, is among those who left for more playing time, departing in 2022.
The tall prospect was sold to Leeds United when Kalvin Phillips moved to City, with Txiki Begiristain securing around £5m for Gyabi.
Data analyst Ben Mattinson described Gyabi as a “truly exciting talent” with a “dominant” midfield presence. Former City youth teammate Keyendrah Simmonds has even compared him to Toure.
Currently on loan at Plymouth Argyle from Leeds, Gyabi’s resemblance to Toure is evident. He is a tall, athletic midfielder with powerful forward drives, praised by former manager Wayne Rooney as a “real asset.”
| Darko Gyabi’s Championship season in numbers |
|---|
| 34 games |
| 1 goal |
| 2 assists |
| 1 ‘big chance’ created |
| 0.6 key passes per game |
| 83% pass accuracy |
| 2.2 tackles & interceptions per game |
| 2.8 balls recovered per game |
| 0.7 successful dribbles per game |
| 55% total duels won |
In the Championship this season, Gyabi ranks high for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 minutes, reinforcing the Toure comparisons.
A successful take-on is when a player dribbles past an opponent while keeping the ball.
Gyabi played against Guardiola’s Man City in the FA Cup, delivering a strong performance with a 94% pass accuracy and minimal ball losses.
While first-team chances at Leeds have been limited, his potential is clear. Mattinson predicted in 2023 that Gyabi’s “explosion on the scene is imminent.”
It’s still early in his career, but it appears Man City might have let a player with Toure-like qualities leave for a low fee.
Vihaan Mehrotra