Yaya Touré reveals: what Ronaldinho told him behind the scenes at Barça

When a player joins FC Barcelona, he’s not just signing for a football club—he’s stepping into a whole new world. A world of legends, of incredible talent, of footballing royalty. In 2007, that world opened its doors to a young Yaya Touré, freshly arrived from AS Monaco and eager to make his mark in one of Europe’s biggest clubs. But what awaited him was more than just high-level competition—it was a humbling, unforgettable experience with none other than Ronaldinho.

In a recent candid and nostalgic interview, Yaya Touré shared a story that still brings laughter to his face. It happened during his early days at Barcelona—a moment that taught him a valuable lesson in humility, skill, and the fine art of football played with flair.

The Ivorian midfielder stepped into a locker room overflowing with talent. Lionel Messi, still a rising star but already dazzling; Samuel Eto’o, a relentless goal machine; Deco, Iniesta… and Ronaldinho—the heart and soul of the team at the time. The Brazilian magician was at the peak of his powers, mesmerizing fans and opponents alike with his unique style.

Yaya, determined and hungry to prove himself, threw everything into training. He wanted to impress the coaching staff, show that he belonged among these stars. “I gave it my all in every session. I was determined to stand out,” he recalled.

But perhaps he gave a bit too much. One day, Ronaldinho walked up to him with a grin and a message that was both a warning and a challenge: “Be careful, Yaya,” he said. “If you get too close to me, I’ll embarrass you.”

Touré initially laughed it off, thinking the Brazilian was just joking around. But he would soon realize that Ronaldinho meant every word. The very next session, as Yaya tried to press him with intensity, Ronaldinho coolly slipped the ball between his legs—a classic nutmeg that left his teammates bursting into laughter.

And it didn’t stop there. Every time Yaya charged in with too much enthusiasm, Ronaldinho punished him the same way—with yet another effortless nutmeg. It became a running joke in training, a rite of passage almost. “Every time I went in too hard, he would nutmeg me. And he did it so casually, so easily, I couldn’t even be mad,” Touré admitted, laughing.

But behind the laughs was a deeper message. Ronaldinho wasn’t just showing off—he was teaching. At Barça, football wasn’t just about strength and hustle. It was about intelligence, grace, and control. It was art. And Ronaldinho was its finest painter.

That humbling experience became a lesson Yaya carried with him. “He made me understand that at Barcelona, you don’t just play football—you express yourself. And sometimes, you have to take a backseat and admire genius,” he said.

Yaya Touré’s stint at Barcelona wasn’t long—just three seasons—but it was meaningful. He grew, adapted, and contributed, all while learning from some of the game’s best. He might not have had the headlines that others did, but he earned the respect of those around him through discipline and humility.

Ronaldinho, on the other hand, remains etched in the memories of football fans worldwide as one of the last true magicians of the sport. His joy, creativity, and charisma continue to inspire generations, and stories like this one show just how much impact he had—not just on fans, but on teammates too.

In sharing this moment, Yaya isn’t bragging. He’s paying tribute. It’s a memory from a golden era, where laughter and brilliance went hand in hand, where greatness was passed down in the form of a cheeky nutmeg and a grin.

“At the time, I thought the biggest challenge would be convincing the coach,” Yaya reflected. “But before that, I had to survive Ronaldinho’s nutmegs.”

And survive he did—wiser, stronger, and forever grateful for those lessons in the shadows of greatness.

Because at Barça, before you become one of them, you first have to be humbled by one of them. And in Yaya Touré’s case, it was the master himself—Ronaldinho—who delivered that welcome, one nutmeg at a time.