MANCHESTER CITY keeper Ederson revealed he put the club’s legendary midfielder Yaya Toure in a rear naked choke in a dressing room play fight.
Pep Guardiola’s No1 admitted his former Ivorian team-mate begged him to stop the sophisticated MMA move.
Ederson put his old Manchester City pal Yaya Toure in a rear naked chokeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Speaking to Brazilian YouTube channel Pilhado, Ederson, 27, said: “I once played with him [Yaya Toure] in the locker room. I gave him a rear naked choke.
“We were playing in the locker room and I used to make fun of him, I played with him a lot. I had that freedom because I liked him and he liked me too. We played a lot.
“Then, once in the locker room, we ended up catching each other and I put a rear naked choke on him.
“He was like ‘Ed, Ed, stop, stop’. I think he’s old too. Age weighs a little too.”
The Brazilian shot-stopper is a massive boxing fan and admitted his team-mates have learnt the hard way not to field any of his punches.
He was like ‘Ed, Ed, stop, stop’. I think he’s old too. Age weighs a little too.
Ederson
He added: “I like boxing a lot. I fight sometimes, I play.
“Sometimes at the club, when I went to the gym, it was more to train boxing. I didn’t like using any apparatus. Just boxing.
“Man, I always liked it. I always watch videos on YouTube. There was a time when I even considered hiring a teacher to do some special training.
“But it’s very busy here, there are a lot of games and there won’t be much time left. Then, whenever I could, I trained a little at the club.
“Sometimes it’s good, when you’re stressed, to take the stress out. Playing a little is good for the mind. Relax. Take some of the anger, the weight off the mind.”
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In the interview, Ederson was told that compatriot and City striker Gabriel Jesus had let slip that players were scared of him because of his freakish strength.
He replied: “Ah, it’s respect, it’s not fear (laughs). People are sometimes afraid to play with me that sometimes I don’t know how to control strength very well and I end up exaggerating a little.
“The guys have already complained that I punch too hard. The right cross has power.
“Sometimes I play, I say ‘punch me three times I’ll punch you once’. But people are now aware and don’t play anymore.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk