Yves Bissouma was inspired by the Manchester City legend, but a 'hard' dream saw nostalgia and tears
Yves Bissouma fought through tears to fulfill his dream of becoming a Premier League star, thanks to a Manchester City legend.
Tottenham Star Bissouma could now be a regular starter in the first team. Ange Postecoglou but it has been a difficult road after leaving his home and family behind before he was a teenager in pursuit of his dream.
At age 12, the Ivory Coast-born ace entered the Jean-Marc Guillou Academy in Mali, where he felt homesick every day. But he kept going, fighting back tears along the way.
Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of Tottenham's Premier League clash with Newcastle on Saturday, live on talkSPORTBissouma spoke candidly about the struggles he experienced trying to make his dream come true.
He told Ian Abrahams: “It was difficult because I was young and I left my parents to go to the academy in Mali, it wasn't easy. I left my parents to go alone.
“I was always thinking about my family, I cried when I talked to my mom and dad on the phone.
“I was crying because I missed mom and dad so much, I was with them every day and when I moved there I called them and just the voice and that's it.
“My mom wasn't there to cook me food, my dad wasn't there to give me what I wanted.
“It was very difficult because I was also young, I was between 12 and 13 years old.
“Afterwards, I put it in my head, 'Okay, Biss, you can live your dream if you believe you can be who you want to be, so stop crying, go out and be who you want to be.'”
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For aspiring footballers in their early years, it helps to have a role model, and there is nothing better than him. City legend Yaya Toure.
The Ivorian played for eight years at the Etihad Stadium, where he became a club icon, leading them to three Premier League titles in 2012, 2014 and 2018, as well as winning the FA Cup in 2011.
But it was his 2013/14 season that would write Touré's name into Premier League folklore after a blistering campaign in which he scored 20 goals at a time when Bissouma was still developing at an academy.
Only Frank Lampard has scored more in a single Premier League campaign from midfield when he netted 22 in 2009/10 and, for many, Touré is among the greatest midfielders to ever play in the top flight.
It's no surprise that for Bissouma, a budding midfielder at the time, the former City and Barcelona star was a huge inspiration.
And he added: “When I was young I really liked Yaya Touré. I watched all his games when he was at City.
“I was really happy to see him and thought: 'Okay, one day I can be like him, I want to play in the Prem.'
“Everyone knows that the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world. All the players want to play in the Prem.
“When I was young I dreamed of playing in the Premier League and today I play in the Prem, so I'm very happy!”
Bissouma was picked up by Brighton and their incredible scouting department in 2018 and became one of the division's biggest young stars.
Tottenham then snapped up the Mali international in 2022 but initially struggled to convince the then manager. antonio conte of a place in the starting eleven.
However, he is now flourishing under Postecoglou, who has given the 27-year-old more responsibility alongside Pape Matar Sarr in midfield.
