Yaya Touré's career has been a steady climb, full of stumbles, but always moving upward.

  Unlike his older brother, Kolo Touré, who gained reition early and became a household name, Yaya's rise was slower and more arduous.

  In 1996, Yaya was selected to join ASEC Mimosas in Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire.

  The club wasn't well-known globally but held signifit stature in Ivorian football, having produumerous talents like the Touré brervinho, and Salomon Kalou.

  ASEC Mimosas was founded by the French coach Jean-Marc Guillou.

  Guillou had been a professional footballer, though his career was retively unremarkable. His most notable achievement was coag es in Ligue 2 during the 1983-84 season.

  That year, es appointed a young assistant coaamed Arsène Wenger. Wenger's potential quickly became apparent, and after just one season, he left for Nan Ligue 1.

  Guillou, however, stayed with es for another year but was eventually dismissed due to poor results. He then moved to Switzernd to coach Servette, but that stint was also short-lived.

  Meanwhile, Wenger went on to coach Monaco, then Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan, before ultimately achieving legendary status at Arsenal.

  Guillou, oher hand, spent several years unemployed before founding the Mimosas Academy in 1993.

  In 1996, Yaya Touré's talent caught Guillou's eye, earning him a spot at the academy.

  His older brother, Kolo, didn't join until 1998.

  By 2001, Yaya had bee the standout pyer of his geion at Mimosas. He was subsequently sent to Belgian club Beveren to begin his European journey.

  At just 18, Yaya bore the responsibility of ging his family's fortunes.

  However, fate had a twist in store.

  In early 2002, Kolo Touré went for a trial with Arsenal during the winter break. Wenger was impressed and signed him directly from Mimosas. Almost ht, Kolo became a rising star in the Premier League.

  Inspired by his brother's success, Yaya also tried out for Arsenal. But Wenger deemed him too sleo hahe league's physicality and passed on signing him.

  Uerred, Yaya pressed on, moving to Metalurh Dosk, then Olympiacos, and ter AS Monaco, steadily climbing the football dder.

  His hard work paid off. His performances in Ligue 1 attracted the attention of Bara, who signed him tthen their midfield.

  Under Frank Rijkaard, Yaya quickly established himself as a key pyer, showg his versatility and physical presen the middle of the park.

  But success was fleeting.

  Bara endured a disappointing season, which cost Rijkaard his job. Pep Guardio took over, and with him came ges that deeply impacted Yaya's career.

  The first major decision Guardio made was to promote Sergio Busquets from the B team.

  This move stirred plenty of specution within the club.

  A persistent rumor circuted around the Joan Gamper Sports City, ohat baffled outsiders but was taken seriously internally:

  Allegedly, in 2007, shortly after Guardio began coag Bara B, he sought advice from Gao Shen. Acc to the stao Shen fidently predicted that Busquets, then an unremarkable winger would bee the ideal number four for Bara's tactical system.

  The tale splintered into multiple versions.

  Some cimed that Gao Shen initially tried to sign Busquets for Napoli but failed, settling instead for Thiago Motta. Others suggested that Guardio followed Gao Shen's reendation to vert Busquets into a holding midfielder, which ultimately id the foundation for Bara's success.

  Regardless of the truth, ohing was clear:

  Busquets' rise had Gao Shen's fingerprints all over it.

  Both Guardio and Bara's top brass held Gao Shen's footballing insights in high regard. Publicly, the media criticized him, but privately, his opinions carried signifit weight.

  As Busquets' stock rose, Yaya Touré's minutes dwindled.

  Throughout the season, he found himself rotating with the younger Spaniard. After the winter break, Busquets gradually secured the starting role, especially in high-stakes matches like the Champions League semi-finals.

  By the end of the season, Yaya had been relegated to pying as a ter-back.

  The demotion g him.

  How had Busquets—a rookie—suddenly surpassed him?

  Was it really all because of one ent from Gao Shen?

  Why did everyone assume Gao Shen's assessment was fwless?

  Yaya Touré didn't buy it. He didn't accept it.

  He had tributed signifitly to Bara's La Liga triumph. His performan the Copa del Rey final was crucial to their victory. Even in the Champions League, he'd pyed mames than Busquets throughout the campaign.

  Yet here he was, moved to defense so that a young upstart could take his pce.

  He was 26 years old, just entering his prime.

  He had worked tirelessly to reach Bara after nearly a decade in European football. Now he was supposed to step aside?

  No.

  Yaya Touré refused to fade into the background.

  He was determio prove he was better than Busquets, better than Xavi, better than anyone else at Bara.

  And tonight, uhe lights of the Champions League final, he saw his ce.

  ---

  Oo one knew what was going through Yaya Touré's mind.

  Even Gao Shee his sharp tactical instincts, only sensed vaguely that Touré was growing mitated and eager as the match progressed.

  But Gao Shen didn't give it much thought. He never imagihat a casual ent he made years ago would ripple into something like this.

  As Bara prepared to take their free kick, both Piqué and Yaya Touré moved into Napoli's penalty area.

  Napoli's pyers formed a well-anized wall, and referee Howard Webb blew his whistle, signaling for Xavi to proceed.

  Xavi took a quick run-up and delivered a driven cross into the box, but Thiago Motta anticipated the trajectory and cleared the ball with a firm header.

  The gested penalty area suddeied as Napoli's defensive line sprang forward like a coiled spring.

  The ball fell to Sánchez, who collected it with his back to goal. Immediately, he spotted Yaya Touré charging toward him like an enraged bull.

  The t Ivorian midfielder, with his imposing physique and dark skin glistening uhe stadium lights, resembled a charging elephant. Sánchez instinctively passed the ball away without hesitation.

  But Touré didn't stop.

  After Sánchez released the ball, Touré surged toward Biglia, then toward another Napoli pyer. He was determiain possession iag third—or, better yet, dribble straight into Napoli's box himself.

  Guardio grew visibly anxious ooue.

  "Yaya! Retreat! Retreat!" he bellowed, waving his arms frantically.

  Piqué had already dropped bato position, but Touré remained dangerously high.

  He wasn't pying as a ter-baymore; he ressing like the box-to-box midfielder he once was.

  By nooli's passing had bypassed Touré's reckless press. The ball found Thiago Motta in space, and the Brazilian quickly unched a low, diagonal pass upfield.

  i tried to hold the ball with his back to goal but misjudged his first touch. His pass toward Di María was intercepted by Busquets, who immediately offloaded it to Puyol.

  Napoli's front lied instantly.

  Di María sprinted forward to close down Puyol, f the veteran to return the ball to Piqué.

  But i was already charging at Piqué.

  Touré was still out of position.

  …

  The opportunity had arrived.

  On the sidelines, Gao Shen's eyes lit up. He ched his fists and roared, "Press! Press now!"

  "Rakitic, go! Attack!"

  Napoli's pyers responded immediately. Rakitic accelerated toward Busquets, who had dropped into the ter-back position. Sánchez simultaneously closed down Dani Alves.

  Bara's defensive line suddenly found themselves with no short passing options.

  Busquets was forced to turn and pass the ball back to Valdés.

  The goalkeeper rushed to the top of the penalty area to receive the pass, but i was already charging toward him. Panicked, Valdés unched a hurried clearance down the right fnk.

  The ball hung in the air, desding near Henry. But Lichtsteiimed his leap perfectly and headed the ball back toward Bara's half.

  Thiago Motta didn't hesitate.

  With one smooth motion, he drove a long, low pass forward.

  i positioned himself against Piqué, using his body to shield the ball as it arrived. With a deft touch, he id the ball off to his right.

  Di María tched onto it and surged down the right wing.

  Puyol reacted quickly, retreating into position and blog the Argentine's path. Di María abruptly stopped, turned back, and then slid the ball toward Lichtsteiner, who had overpped into space.

  The Swiss full-back delivered a low cross, but Piqué intercepted it at the near post.

  By nooli's entire formation had pushed higher up the pitch.

  Rakiti the clearah a well-timed header, nodding the ball backward toward his own half where Thiago Motta collected it.

  The Brazilian immediately passed diagonally to Biglia.

  Touré, realizing his mistake, tried to recover. He sprioward Biglia but arrived a moment too te.

  Biglia shifted the ball wide tas, who passed it further along the fnk to Sánchez.

  The Chilean winger received the ball and immediately drove diagonally toward the penalty area.

  i read the movement perfectly.

  As Sánchez cut inside, i sprioward the left byline, dragging Busquets with him.

  Sánchez slipped a pass to i's feet.

  Alves and Busquets panicked, fearing a cross into the box. Both defenders luoward i.

  But i stopped dead and backheeled the ball.

  Sánchez, who had tinued his diagonal ruhe pass at full speed.

  Valdés rushed out to close the angle.

  Piqué abandoned his position to block the shot, leaving Rakitid Di María unmarked in front of goal.

  Sánchez skipped past Piqué with a delicate touch.

  Then, with surgical precision, he gently squared the ball across the face of goal.

  Rakitider pressure from Puyol, feinted ahe ball roll past him.

  Behind them, Di María was waiting.

  The Argeood pletely unmarked he back post.

  The ball rolled to his feet.

  With Valdés sprawled out and the goal gaping, Di María calmly side-footed the ball toward the .

  The stadium collectively held its breath.

  The ball trickled across the line.

  Bara's bulged.

  ***

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