RIO DE JANEIRO, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has withdrawn an offer to come out of retirement to play for Brazil's Vasco da Gama.
Toure last week announced that he would join the Rio de Janeiro club if Leven Siano, a candidate for the club's presidency, won an election later this year.
"I would like to thank Mr Leven for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful project with the Vasco da Gama family," Toure said in a video message posted by Siano on social media on Wednesday.
"Unfortunately I'm not able to be a part of it anymore. Because of personal reasons, I can't move to Brazil. Thank you for your understanding and I wish Mr Leven all the best and success with his project."
Siano, a 51-year-old lawyer from Rio de Janeiro, is one of six people to confirm their candidacy for Vasco's first ever direct elections.
Toure has not played since parting ways with Chinese club Qingdao Huanghai in December. Enditem
