- Toure revealed Barca players protected Messi
- Ronaldinho turned his team-mates into laughing stock
- Spent three years at Camp Nou
GOAL/Getty‘Everyone protected’ Lionel Messi in Barcelona training as Ronaldinho turned team-mates into ‘laughing stock’ with nutmeg antics

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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.
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Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Manchester City legend Toure spent three years at Camp Nou, where he played alongside legends like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi. The former Ivory Coast international won seven titles during his brief stay which includes two La Liga and a Champions League title.
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Reminiscing his time at the Catalan club, Toure recalled sharing a dressing room with Messi as he claimed that every Barcelona player protected the young Argentine at that time. He also recalled how Ronaldinho turned his teammates into a 'laughing stock' by nutmegging them in training.
WHAT YAYA TOURE SAID
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the 41-year-old said: "Everyone protected him because we knew he was a talented player and we recognized how good he was. That was very beneficial for the club. We were happy when opponents pressed us high. Because we simply, without thinking, would try to pass the ball to him immediately."
He added: "In my early days with Barcelona during training, Ronaldinho seemed ordinary. But one day he came to me and said, 'Be careful, Yaya, if you get close to me, I’ll make you a laughing stock.' I thought he was just joking, but every time I got near him, he’d nutmeg me."
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
The Blaugrana will be back in action next week in the Champions League as they take on Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their quarter-final fixture at home.
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