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Manchester City's Kolo Toure Reveals Dressing-Room Bust-up Caused His Arsenal Exit
Internal tensions forced defender out of north London...
23-Nov-2009 3:46:59 PM
Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has admitted that a row with a team-mate was the main reason behind his decision to leave Arsenal and move north in the summer.
But the Ivory Coast international will not point the finger of blame and name the specific individual with whom he fell out, in order to minimise the likely controversy.
And the defender has revealed that his perceived lack of effort and quality during his last season with the Gunners was a direct result of this team-mate's behind-the-scenes machinations.
"I had problems with certain players at Arsenal, especially one, whose name I will not say because I don't want to feed the controversy," Toure told Eurogoals One to One.
But the Ivory Coast international will not point the finger of blame and name the specific individual with whom he fell out, in order to minimise the likely controversy.
And the defender has revealed that his perceived lack of effort and quality during his last season with the Gunners was a direct result of this team-mate's behind-the-scenes machinations.
"I had problems with certain players at Arsenal, especially one, whose name I will not say because I don't want to feed the controversy," Toure told Eurogoals One to One.
"I didn't have much time on the pitch last year because I think there's a player who got the manager believing that he and I had no understanding on the field. That did surprise me hugely."
Toure insists that the problems had little to do with him and he never wished to undermine Arsene Wenger's squad. He had wanted to end his career at the Emirates until the situation became intolerable.
"I have never looked to put a spoke in anyone's wheel at all," he added.
"My wish was to finish my career at Arsenal, but there are always banana skins."
Zack Wilson
Inside Goal.Com
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