Ivory Coast icons Didier Drogba and Kolo Toure have called on controversial countryman Serge Aurier to ‘be careful’ and behave in a more mature manner.
Tottenham right back Aurier, who signed from PSG in a £23million move this summer, has punctuated his career to date with a long list of indiscretions.
Aurier, 24, was sent off on just his second Spurs start, after picking up two yellow cards in a feisty London derby with West Ham.
Serge Aurier has been urged to ‘be careful’ and behave more maturely by two fellow Ivorians
Aurier was sent off on his third appearance for Spurs after signing from PSG for £23million
That followed a troubled time in France, where he called ex-PSG boss Laurent Blanc a ‘f****t’
But, as pointed out by Drogba, Aurier’s biggest problems are away from football.
Drogba told The Mirror: ‘Serge Aurier maybe has to make those mistakes to really understand and realise what he represents.
‘He’s a good person, he’s loyal, he wants to succeed. His problem is away from the pitch – he’s always given everything on the pitch.
‘But you know that when there are kids who call your name and ask for autographs, you have to be careful with all your actions and gestures.’
Aurier left PSG after a three turbulent seasons.
Aurier also made crude comments about ref Bjorn Kuipers after a game with Chelsea in 2015
Like Mario Balotelli (pictured left) Aurier’s problems have mainly come off the football pitch
His red card aside, 24-year-old Aurier has impressed during his first four outings for Tottenham
He won two Ligue 1 titles, three French Cups and a trio of League Cups, but also found himself in hot water for calling ex-PSG boss Laurent Blanc a ‘f****t’, describing referee Bjorn Kuipers as ‘a dirty son of a b****’ and assaulting a police officer.
Like Drogba, Toure is convinced that Aurier is not a bad person, but admits his fellow Ivorian defender needs to grow up.
‘It’s a lack of maturity, quite simply,’ Toure explained. ‘I think he must feel very bad about it. But he got carried away and didn’t realise the consequences.
‘Serge is a really good guy, ask his team-mates. He’s young. We’ve all been like that. We’ve all been through that stage when we’re young, playing the hard guy.’
Aurier, who played alongside Toure as the Ivory Coast won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, is likely to make his fifth Spurs appearance on Saturday when Mauricio Pochettino’s side host Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Former Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba said: ‘He’s always given everything on the pitch’
Fellow defender Kolo Toure said Aurier lacks ‘maturity’, but added: ‘Serge is a really good guy’
Aurier (top left) and Toure (top centre) won the Africa Cup of Nations together back in 2015