Lagos-born Super Eagles star Dele-Bashiru names Manchester City legend as his idol growing up 

Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has named Manchester City and Ivory Coast legend Yaya Touré as his role model.

Touré was regarded as one of the finest midfielders in Europe during his stay with the Citizens having joined the club from Barcelona in 2010.

 During his eight-year stay at the Etihad, he won the Premier League on three occasions, won the FA once and the Football League Cup now known as the Carabao Cup twice.

Not only did he propel Manchester City to great heights but also did remarkably well for himself within that period, was named the African Footballer of the Year four times and in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year twice. 

He scored 80 goals in 316 games across all competitions and is ranked just outside the top 10 in the Citizens' all-time top scorer's list. 

Speaking in his first interview with Lazio official channel (subscription required), Dele-Bashiru named the retired Ivory Coast international as his role model, drawing comparison between his style of play and Toure's.

"My idol growing up was Yaya Tourè so I'd say I'm a box-to-box midfielder. I like to run, I like to take shots. I idolized Tourè growing up, that's who I like to play like. 

"In the Serie A, with the tempo of the game, tactical awareness, this is a league where I can grow as a player. I can't wait to get started here."

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has clarified that he was born in the chief commercial, financial and maritime nerve-center of Nigeria, Lagos and not Hamburg in Germany as widely reported.

"I was born in Lagos in Nigeria. I don't know why it says Hamburg," he stressed. 

Fisayo is a product of the Manchester City Academy and it is not surprising to see him reveal that he has been influenced by the four-time African Player of the Year.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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