Yaya Touré has clarified his future, dismissing recent reports of retirement and reaffirming his desire to continue playing. The 36-year-old Ivorian midfielder, who earned 102 caps for his country, took to Twitter to address confusion surrounding his career plans after his agent, Dimitri Seluk, suggested he was close to hanging up his boots.
“There has been a lot of confusion about my future recently. I want to make it clear that I love football and I am still ready to play for a few more years. Yes, I am working on my coaching qualifications, but being a full-time coach is not what I am thinking about right now. Right now, I am ready and focused on taking on a new challenge in playing football. And don’t worry, when the time comes, I will announce my retirement personally and officially myself,” Touré wrote.
Speaking to RFI, the former Manchester City star elaborated on his ambitions, emphasizing his passion for the game. “I’d like to go somewhere where I’d feel more comfortable. I’d try to contribute both on and off the pitch. When I was a kid, football was just a game; it became my passion and my profession. I want to continue. My break allowed me to realize that I wanted to keep going. As long as I can play, I’ll continue. I want to keep experiencing the adrenaline of football.”
Touré, who has several options on the table, stressed the importance of finding the right environment for the next chapter of his career. Reflecting on his last spell at Olympiacos, he noted, “I’m looking at them carefully and I want all the conditions to be right, because I had a very difficult time during my last spell at Olympiacos. I want to leave on a high note by giving it my all.”
Despite being in the latter stages of his career, Touré remains motivated to continue contributing on the field, blending his wealth of experience with a desire to embrace new challenges. His statement leaves the door open for another chapter in a distinguished career that has included spells at Barcelona, Manchester City, and the Ivorian national team.
