For this reason, it's fair to say that the signing of Touré is one of Txiki Begiristain's - the FC Barcelona Technical Secretary - main successes along with the return of Gerard Piqué.

Until he signed for Barça, Toure Yaya was a globetrotter used to making the best of difficult situations.

He wasn't overawed when he arrived at Camp Nou in the summer of 2007 aged 24, having played for ASEC Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, Beveren in Belgium, Metalurg Donetsk in the Ucraine, Olympiakos in Greece and, of course, Monaco.

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Touré initially signed for four seasons and Barça paid Monaco €9 million for him.

When he was 21, Arsene Wenger gave him a trial at Arsenal and decided not to take him on.

Now the French coach would gladly sign him because in Touré, Wenger can also see the new Patrick Viera.