Former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has thanked Leyton Orient for allowing him to train with them.
The Sky Bet League Two club returned to work on Monday and were joined on Friday by Toure, who last played for Chinese side Qingdao Huanghai.
Toure won three Premier League titles during his eight seasons at Man City and is set to train with Orient for the next couple of weeks to improve his fitness, the PA news agency understands.
👀 Who have we got here then? It's only three-time Premier League, Champions League, La Liga and African Cup of Nations winner Yaya Touré. There he is look, in his Leyton Orient top at training this morning.#LOFC #OnlyOneOrient pic.twitter.com/nvX99rro4Y — Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) July 24, 2020
“The manager and staff have been fantastic in allowing me to come train with the lads and it’s a huge opportunity as things aren’t easy, especially with the virus,” Toure told Orient TV.
“I just want to enjoy it to the last minute as football to me is everything. It’s great Orient have allowed me to train with the lads and everyone has welcomed me here. I just want to do my best and train hard.
“Today was just about trying to get my legs going, but I think from Monday I’ll look to be more involved on the ball, and will be a lot more active.”
Last summer Toure had to deny rumours he had retired before he moved to China after a short spell with Olympiacos.
The 37-year-old helped Qingdao earn promotion to the Super League in October before he was sent off in his final game and has now left the club following the end of his contract.
Orient boss Ross Embleton admitted he thought it was a wind-up when he first received a message from Toure’s team, with the Ivorian now living in London.
“I had contact from his agent 10 days ago and we thought it was a joke,” he said.
“We followed it through though and pretty soon realised it was the real deal.
“Any opportunity to get a player of his quality, one of the best in the world, is fantastic. He comes across as a really good character and it will give our players a really good opportunity to learn from him in the experience.”
