Remember it well. It's the first time I'd ever seen Yaya and I remember he stood head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch and ran the game like a puppet master. I didn't have a program so I noted his shirt number and looked him up as soon as I got in. Olympiacos bought him from Metalurh Donetsk for €1m iirc and if Stuart Pearce had a fucking brain, he'd have given them that and then some to buy him for City..........
Alas Pearce saved all his pennies that closed season as he only had eyes for Samaras, Corroded and Dickov for the following season!! Football genius or what :-(
I've wanted him here ever since that first time I saw him and it was a dream come true when he agreed to sign for us. He'll probably turn out to be our most important signing ever.
Question:
If Pearce had bought him in 2005, what would have come of him? Does anyone reckon he'd be the player he is today?