Football
ESPN staff 7y

New Ivory Coast boss Marc Wilmots wants to bring back Yaya Toure

Ivory Coast coach Marc Wilmots has said he hopes Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure can be persuaded to end his international retirement.

Toure brought down the curtain on his international career last year, having led Ivory Coast to the 2015 African Nations Cup.

But ex-Belgium boss Wilmots, who agreed a two-year deal to coach the team earlier this week, has said "it's not yet over" for Toure.

The BBC quoted him as saying: "We've got to get him back. The Yaya Toure case will be one of my first missions.

"I've seen the last two games that he played for Manchester City in a defensive midfield position. He's always great -- he's so good physically.

"I'll go see him, I'll talk with him."

Toure, 33, said on his retirement: "I no longer feel able to set myself new goals as a player with the Elephants of Ivory Coast."

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