Ex-Côte d’Ivoire captain Yaya Toure trains with English League Two side Leyton Orient
Former Côte d’Ivoire international Yaya Toure caused a stir on social media after he was pictured training with English fourth-tier club Leyton Orient.
According to the PA news agency, Toure, who is currently without a club, is set to train with the League Two side for the next fortnight in a bid to regain his fitness.
The 37-year-old last featured for Chinese side Qingdao Huanghai in 2019 helping them secure promotion to the Super League.
“Who have we got here then? It’s only three-time Premier League, Champions League, La Liga and African Cup of Nations winner Yaya Touré,” Leyton Orient tweeted.
Toure’s picture created a buzz with fans calling on the club to sign the four-time African Footballer of the Year.
Toure told Orient’s media team that he was grateful for the “huge opportunity” the club afforded him to train with the squad.
“I just want to enjoy it to the last minute, as football to me is everything. It’s great Orient have allowed me to train with the lads, and everyone has welcomed me here. I just want to do my best and train hard.” Toure told Orient TV.
Toure also reiterated his stand, as he did in May last year, that he had not retired from professional football.
“Today was just about trying to get my legs going, but I think from Monday I’ll look to be more involved on the ball, and will be a lot more active.”
Last year, as Toure denied rumours of his retirement, he added that he was beginning to prepare himself for coaching badges but full-time coaching was not what he was thinking of at the time.
Orient’s head coach Ross Embleton said Toure’s presence will give the club’s players a “really good opportunity to learn from him in the experience.”
Toure won La Liga twice and the Champions League with Spanish side Barcelona in 2009. He then went on to spend eight successful years with Manchester City, scoring 79 times in 316 games.
He also played 101 times for the Ivory Coast and won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
