Sampdoria midfielder Afriyie Acquah says Yaya Touré told him “you will be my heir at Manchester City.”
The pair clashed during the African Cup of Nations, when Acquah’s Ghana lost the Final to Toure’s Ivory Coast on penalties.
“We went into a challenge, he dived and simulated injury. I wagged my finger at him. Yaya Touré was always my idol,” 23-year-old Acquah told Secolo XIX newspaper.
Sampdoria midfielder Afriyie Acquah says Yaya Touré told him “you will be my heir at Manchester City.”
The pair clashed during the African Cup of Nations, when Acquah’s Ghana lost the Final to Toure’s Ivory Coast on penalties.
“We went into a challenge, he dived and simulated injury. I wagged my finger at him. Yaya Touré was always my idol,” 23-year-old Acquah told Secolo XIX newspaper.
“Once the game was over, he called me and we talked. He said that I played well and one day I’d be his heir at Manchester City.
“For now, my City is Samp. I am still in contact with Touré, though.”
Acquah eventually missed a penalty in the decisive shoot-out and admits it was traumatic.
“Every time I take a penalty in training, it comes back into my mind. I watched the whole Final back on TV and cried.”
Acquah is only on loan at Samp until the end of the season, having arrived from Hoffenheim on transfer deadline day last month.