IVORY COAST striker Wilfried Bony reckons Kolo Toure should persuade Karamoko Dembele to snub Scotland and play for the Ivrorians.
The powerful striker, currently on loan at Stoke City from Manchester City, believes Celtic’s 13-year-old sensation should play for his country and is eager for 120 times-capped veteran central defender Toure to do the groundwork.
Dembele hit the headlines last week by coming on as a substitute for the last nine minutes of the Hoops’ Under-20s’ 3-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle.
The tiny tot, who operates as an atttacking midfielder, has now been linked with just about every top club in Europe while the Parkhead side can not offer him a professional contract until he is 16 years of age.
Dembele was born in England to Ivorian parents, but has been brought up in Scotland – and is eligible to play for all three nations.
Bony is determined the youngster should choose to perform for the country of his parents’ birth.
He insisted “it makes sense” for Dembele to pick the African side over Scotland and England.
Bony suggested Toure, who arrived at Parkhead in the summer to be reunited with his former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, should tell him how great it is to play for the Ivorians.
The former Swansea frontman said: “It makes sense to choose the Ivory Coast. Both his parents are from that country – that is a big part of who he is.
“Kolo Toure is at Celtic, I am sure he can tell him all about how great playing for the Ivory Coast is.
“It is arrogance to suggest that his only decision is between Scotland or England.”
