Yaya Toure has quashed any remaining doubts about his Manchester City future by nailing his colours firmly to the club’s mast.
Ivorian Toure, linked with moves away this summer as the 31-year-old has experienced a rough time due to his ill brother Ibrahim sadly passing away in June, said the ordeal had unsurprisingly affected his thinking.
Now Toure, on tour with City in the United States and preparing to face Premier League title rivals Liverpool in New York later on Wednesday, cannot wait to roll his sleeves up at the Etihad alongside boss Manuel Pellegrini.
“I’m very happy to join the team and the manager, he’s a fantastic manager. Everyone’s very positive and this year I think it’s going to be amazing,” Toure told City TV.
“It was not a case of leaving the club, it was because my situation was difficult. I will stay in Man City as long as possible.
“We’ve had some good signings and the important players have stayed. It’s important to have the players with experience. We need to try and stay as long as possible, try to build a massive club.”
Toure has experience of building a club based on success during his time at Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, where from 2007-2010 he helped the Spanish giants win two League titles, one Champions League, one Spanish Cup, one World Club Cup, one European Supercup and one Spanish Supercup.
“If you want to be the best you need to win every trophy possible. I think last season was quite difficult but on the other hand, with two trophies, fantastic,” he said.
“This year the Champions League is an important target and the Premier League is going to be a battle between Chelsea, United, Arsenal and I think Tottenham as well plus Liverpool. It’s going to be very open.”
Missing from City’s trophy cabinet is the elusive European cup, which United have won twice in the last 15 years while Chelsea (2012) and Liverpool (2005) have also lifted the trophy.
City landed their first title in 35 years when they won the 2011 FA Cup, before their breakthrough Premier League triumph in 2012 and then repeating that feat last season as they also added the League Cup to their honours board.
Main image courtesy of Carl Recine/Action Images, with thanks.
