Mohamed Toure’s former coach has admitted Randers may have sold the Socceroos striker for less than what he is actually worth.
The 21-year-old has made a scorching start to his career at Norwich City after joining the Championship club from Denmark this month.
Toure has scored five goals in just 130 minutes of football for the Canaries, with the latest coming in a 3-1 FA Cup fourth round win over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.
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Mohamed Toure of Norwich City celebrates scoring his team’s third goal. Getty
Norwich paid $5m to get Toure to Carrow Road, with potential for Randers to net a further $1.35m in add-ons and bonuses.
That seems an absolute bargain at the moment.
Toure scored 12 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions for Randers.
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Mohamed Toure of Norwich City. Getty
“If he had played the whole Autumn as he has started in Norwich, the price would probably have been different,” Randers manager Jesper Sorensen told Danish outlet Bold.
“But that wasn’t the case, and that’s why we’re proud of the sale we ended up making. We are, of course, looking forward to both achieving various bonuses and the opportunity to realise the resale clause that exists. Because he has the potential to go really far.”
Sorensen revealed Australia’s Sturm Graz was one of many European clubs sniffing around Toure during the transfer window.
“There have always been scouts and clubs who have taken note of his potential,” he said.
“Then there have been matches where he hasn’t shown it, but no one could take those extraordinary things away from him, and you don’t find those skills in many places. In that respect, he is simply unique.”
Socceroos manager Tony Popovic will of course be thrilled with Toure’s form ahead of the World Cup which kicks off in June.
Mohamed Toure of Australia celebrates after scoring. Getty
Toure and fellow young gun Nestory Irankunda could potentially form a lethal partnership up front.
Toure has scored two goals in five senior internationals for Australia.
Norwich manager Philippe Clement said Toure, who was born in a refugee camp in Guinea after his parents fled Liberia during the civil war, had been a pleasure to work with.
Mohamed Toure of Norwich City celebrates after scoring. Getty
“I don’t have the feeling with him that I need to manage him a lot, because he’s really humble. He’s even quite introvert,” Clement said.
Against Oxford United, Toure became the first player to score a hat-trick on his first start in England’s top four tiers since Jesse Lingard in 2013.
“A funny story about the Oxford game, because the day before, all the new players had to sing a song. That’s a tradition,” Clement said.
“I have to say that Mo was not really up to that, and it was not really a big performance. I told him also after the game that I was really happy that this performance on the pitch was much better than in his singing contest!
“He’s really humble, really down to earth. He’s come from Australia, he’s focused and wants to learn and recognises really well the things he needs to work on. He’s really hungry to become better. I don’t need to manage him.”
Toure moved to Australia when he was less than a year old.
He got his start in Europe after French club Reims spotted him playing for Adelaide United.
“It’s a crazy start and hopefully we can keep it going,” Toure said.
“It’s been one of my dreams for a long time, coming to England to play football and I didn’t expect to be at such a big club so quick. Now I’m here at Norwich and I just want to enjoy every moment.”