No coach in his right frame of mind would leave a fit Yaya Toure on the bench for an important game, no matter the type of opposition. A towering presence in the center of the park who instills fear in opposition defences with sublime long shots and eyes-and-needles passes, Yaya will comfortably fill in and perform in any defensive, central and even attacking midfield role.
His Manchester City teammate, Samir Nasri, however believes that the Ivorian does not get the respect and recognition he deserves just because he hails from Africa.
"If he wasn't African everyone will say he's the best midfielder in the world. He can do everything -- he can score goals, he can defend, he can attack. When he gets the ball he is so powerful," says the Frenchman.
"You should just admire the way he plays because he's a great player. I might be a little bit biased because he's my friend, but for me he's in the top three of the best midfielders in the world. Of course it counts against him being from Ivory Coast."
"If he was Argentinean or Brazilian everyone will talk about him, everyone. You have some Brazilians or Argentineans, I don't want to say anything wrong, but just because they are from this country you pay them 40 million pounds or 50 million pounds."
"A guy like Yaya, he [has] won every trophy, he is always there. Tell me one defensive midfielder who can go forward like him, who can score 16 or 17 goals in a season. Tell me one and then we can talk."
Do you think Yaya Toure is underrated? If so, what is the reason - because he is African?
