Barca gaga over Yaya

Catalan giants unwilling to part with Ivorian ace

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 12th June 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Barca gaga over Yaya

Toure: Settled quickly in Spain

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Barcelona have signalled their intention to retain the services of Yaya Toure this summer.

The Ivory Coast international recently admitted his interest in teaming up with his brother Kolo at Arsenal.

With a holding midfielder top of Arsene Wenger's wish list, Toure would appear to be an ideal replacement for the Milan-bound Mathieu Flamini, bringing some much-needed steel to the Gunners in the middle of the park.

The 25-year-old has enjoyed immediate success in Spain since he swapped Ligue 1 Monaco for Primera Liga Barca in the summer of 2007, and has become a fans' favourite at Camp Nou.

He is now widely regarded as one of the finest exponents of his role in the business, and for that reason the Gunners may be forced to look elsewhere as his current employers appear reluctant to part with his talents.

"Nothing has been decided as yet," said the Spaniard's sporting director Txiki Beguiristain.

"But we want Yaya to stay with us and he is not on the market.

"(Josep) Guardiola considers him to be an important player in his new project."