Yaya Toure has admitted that Arsene Wenger and his brother Kolo tried to persuade him to join Arsenal in the summer, but he did not want to leave Barcelona.
The 25-year-old midfielder told both Wenger and his brother that he did not want to go to North London.
“Both Wenger and my brother told me in the summer that I should join Arsenal, but I told them that I am very happy at Barcelona,” he said on RAC-1 radio.
In the Blaugrana’s first few games of the season, Toure has rarely figured for Barca, but he understands that he will have to bide his time.
“We cannot play with twelve. I am physically fit, but one must respect the coach’s decision,” he explained. “I am a professional and if I am not playing that I must be patient for the good of the team.
“When you pull on a Barca shirt you are representing one of the biggest clubs in the world and you have to win every game.
“The competition is good. We have two very good players for every position and that is crucial when you are playing for the best team in the world.
“Now we have to play well and with real spirit. All the players are conscious that this season we have to win something.”
