With the Manchester City Derby scheduled in early September, all eyes will be fixed on how both clubs’ respective signings fare in one of the most hotly-contested games in the world.
Rayan Cherki vowed to “kill” Manchester United after they knocked Lyon out of the Europa League last season and all eyes will be on the Frenchman’s performance at the Etihad Stadium.
As for United, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha will be expected to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Manchester United fans may especially expect the Cameroonian winger to step up to the plate against City, considering he is coming off the back of a remarkable 20 goal-season in the Premier League.
- READ MORE: Why Man City’s owners could now earn £8m from Bryan Mbeumo’s £70m move to Manchester United
Bryan Mbeumo reveals he is a big fan of Yaya Toure
While Mbeumo is now a United player, being 25 years old, he has grown up in an era where Manchester City have been the dominant force in English football.
Furthermore, even Red Devils academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo admitted he admired Yaya Toure as aspiring footballers have to put rivalries aside and study greats of the game to improve as players.
Mbeumo is no different, telling Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel that his three favourite African players growing up were Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and the aforementioned Yaya Toure: “I would put Eto’o, Drogba and Yaya Toure.”
“Top three now, [Mohamed] Salah, [Ademola] Lookman…and [Achraf] Hakimi.”
Scott McTominay revealed he modelled his game on Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure is one of the greatest midfielders of all time and as a result, it comes as no surprise that being an African player especially, Mbeumo held him in high regard.
Even Carlos Baleba lauded Toure as one of his idols growing up.
Winning every trophy under the sun during his club career while also lifting the Africa Cup of Nations, the veteran had an outstanding career. Being a world-class player, the Ivorian was renowned for his incredible right foot, tremendous technique, splendid dribbling and outstanding athleticism.
Scott McTominay raved about Yaya Toure as well, admitting he modelled his game on the Manchester City legend, revealing: “It’s always midfield players who were a similar height and a similar style to yourself you always watch growing up as a kid. When I was younger, I was a lot smaller so maybe like 5’10” so I used to watch players that height and then you can’t imagine yourself growing up and being the height that I am now. I started watching people like [Zinedine] Zidane, Yaya Toure, similar sort of height and build, just tried to emulate what they do as best as I could do.”
