Yaya Toure reportedly told Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola back in May that he was determined to fight for his future at the club and see out the remaining year of his contract. The close of the summer transfer window confirmed those reports, the former Ivory Coast international refusing a move to China or Italy with a source close to Toure saying: “The first thing Pep said to Yaya was that he will be a big player for him — on and off the pitch…Yaya was happy to be told that he is part of the plan.”
Guardiola’s own endorsement of Yaya’s decision to stay wasn’t quite as ringing, but the Spaniard still said: “I spoke with him. He said he wants to stay. If he wants to stay, I am happy you stay. There are a lot of games. Everybody needs to play.”
Unfortunately for Yaya, one competition he won’t be playing in is the UEFA Champions League. The 33-year-old has appeared in 25 Champions League matches for City over the past four seasons, but he’s been dropped entirely for this year’s group stage.
Toure was included for City’s Champions League playoff against Steaua Bucharest, appearing in the second leg, while the big names that were dropped for that encounter - Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri and Wilfried Bony - have all found new clubs.
In some ways, it appears as though Toure has had the carpet pulled out beneath him. It’s either that or the private conversations between Guardiola and Toure differ greatly from what’s said to the press.
Toure would appear to have absolutely no part in Guardiola’s plans this year. He’s yet to appear in the Premier League, and it’s widely believed that Toure is simply happy to earn his wages at City. His weekly wage of £220,000 is unlikely to be matched anywhere else on the planet outside of China.
With only a year left on his contract, expect to see very little of Toure this season before he makes his move as a free agent in 2017.
(H/T: FourFourTwo)
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