Yaya Toure Quotes & Sayings

“English football is so physical and fast that when you see a space, you have to go into it with all your speed.”

“To be honest, proper recognition has only come from the fans. I don't want to be hard, and I don't want to be negative, but I want to be honest.”

“I am very proud to be African. I want to defend African people, and I want to show to the world that African players can be as good as the Europeans and South Americans.”

“My family were very poor. I am one of nine siblings: two girls and seven boys. Only my brother and I play in Europe, and then three more work in Europe, and another plays in Tunisia. This family is a footballing family, but our lives have not always been good.”

“You must respect people, and you must respect money. My father said to me: 'When you respect money, money will respect you.'”

“When you get the respect of the fans, it's very hard not to be happy.”

“I just had a normal African childhood; we played football a lot, but it was always in the street and always without shoes. Boots were very expensive, and when there are seven in your family, and you say you want to buy a pair, your father wants to kill you.”

“I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to achieve something big.”

“I will never forget how I have been treated here by the fans, the club and the owners, and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to finish my career as a Manchester City player.”

“The mentality with African and European people is different. In Africa, when you come from a difficult life, when it's not so easy to eat, not so easy to survive, you respect money when you start to earn it, and you respect people more. When you respect people, they will respect you, and your life is better for that.”