Yaya Toure sent off after just 10 seconds of final game in China as speculation on former Barcelona and Manchester City star’s next step continues

Despite loss, Qingdao Huanghai side go up as champions while win for Gary White’s side keeps them in China League One

Future uncertain for Uefa Champions League winner as he is expected to leave Chinese club he joined four months ago

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Yaya Toure celebrates scoring for Manchester City in 2016. Photo: Reuters

Published: 5:50pm, 3 Nov 2019Updated: 5:50pm, 3 Nov 2019

Former Barcelona and Manchester City footballer Yaya Toure saw red in his final game in China League One for Qingdao Huanghai on Saturday.

The Ivorian was sent off after just 10 seconds of their home game against Gary White’s struggling Nantong Zhiyun side, in a game that his teammates went on to lose 2-1.

He appeared to kick out at an opposition player in the game’s opening exchanges and it was confirmed by VAR.

This was only the third sending off of the 36-year-old’s storied career but the game ended with him lifting a league title in a fourth country, following three English Premier League titles with Manchester City, two Spanish La Liga titles with Barcelona and a Greek league win with Olympiakos.

Results elsewhere meant that the Qingdao side are promoted to the Chinese Super League as champions.

Toure celebrated the achievement on Twitter after the game, with a photo of the team being handed the trophy on the pitch accompanied by the single word caption “Champions”.

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