Yaya Toure has made some eye-catching comments in the last twenty-four hours, and has claimed that he doesn’t receive the recognition he deserves because he’s African. Toure also made reference to Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o and believes that they were similarly undervalued for the same reason. The Ivory Coast international is considered by many to be one of the best players in the English Premier League, and on Friday was included on the Football Association's Player of the Year shortlist. However, Toure feels he desreves more plaudits.

Fellow City star Samir Nasri recently commented of Toure that: "If he wasn't African everyone will say he's the best midfielder in the world.'

In an interview with the BBC Yaya said "I think what Samir was saying was definitely true,"

"To be honest, proper recognition has only come from the fans," he added.

"I don't want to be hard and I don't want to be negative, but I want to be honest."

"If you go to any part of Africa now, people will say, 'yes, we know him [Messi]', but when you come to Europe and say 'Yaya Toure' people will say, 'who is that?' Some will say they know my name but not know my face. But they will know Messi's face," he asserted.

"I am very proud to be African, I want to defend African people and I want to show to the world that African players can be as good as the Europeans and South Americans."

Yaya Toure is a three time winner of The African Player Of The Year Award.

Photo: Action Images

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