The Ivory Coast international marked his return to the Citizens’ staring XI with a brace during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has told Al Jazeera (as quoted by the Mirror) that he is determined to stay and fight for his future at the Etihad Stadium, after he marked his return to the Citizens XI with a game-winning brace during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Toure was exiled from the City first-team squad by incoming Sky Blues’ boss Pep Guardiola earlier this season, after the Ivorian’s agent Dimitri Seluk became embroiled in a bitter war of words with the former Barcelona manager after he chose to controversially omit the influential 33-year-old from the Citizens’ Champions League squad.
Guardiola demanded that both Seluk and Toure apologise to him and the City squad for the former’s slanderous comments to the media, however a public apology was not forthcoming from either party, and the Ivory Coast international was duly banished from first-team duties.
After having almost three-months to mull over the best course of action to take for his long-term future, Toure belatedly chose to seek forgiveness from City for what he perceived to be a misunderstanding between his representatives and the club’s heirarchy, with Guardiola deeming the midfielder’s tardy apology to be acceptable and allowing him to return to the first-team fold for Saturday’s trip to Selhurst Park.
Fan-favourite Toure, who has played a major role in City’s recent history, marked his long-awaited return to the starting XI with a trademark brace against Alan Pardew’s Palace, with the Ivorian’s 83rd minute winner ensuring that the Sky Blues stay within touching distance of title-rivals Liverpool and Chelsea heading into a hectic festive fixture list.
Toure was understandably delighted with his contributions upon being reinstated into Guardiola’s side after a prolonged period out in the cold, and the 33-year-old has reiterated his desire to continue his illustrious career at the Etihad Stadium and repay the club and fans for the faith they have shown in him.
“I’m happy with the club, I’m happy with the city and I want to carry on,” Yaya told Al Jazeera (as quoted by the Mirror).
“For what the chairman, for what the club, and for what the fans have been doing for me, singing my name.
“I don’t want to retire before I have given them something back. I know what I want to give them back and I don’t want to share it with you guys! I want to keep it to myself.”
At this moment it is unclear as to what exactly Toure wants to give back to City after over six-years in the blue half of Manchester, however, if the 33-year-old is referring to the Champions League trophy, he will have to wait with bated breath to discover whether he will have any role to play for the Citizens in Europe this season.
After being excluded from the Sky Blues’ 25-man squad for the group stages of the competition, Guardiola will now assess whether he should recall the revitalised midfielder for the knockout stages, with Toure seemingly desperate to help his employers scoop their first ever Champions League trophy.
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