Yaya to put troubles in past and prove loyalty to Man City

Steve Brenner 06:12 30/07/2014
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  • Getting down to work: Toure challenges Southampton’s Jose Fonte last season.

    Yaya Toure has handed Manuel Pel­legrini a timely boost ahead of the new season by insisting he wants to spend “as long as possible” at Man­chester City following the most tur­bulent summer of his career.

    Toure has endured a nightmare few weeks after the tragic death of younger brother Ibrahim from cancer last month while the Ivory Coast were heading towards an ear­ly World Cup exit.

    With Toure seemingly heading for the Etihad exit door after he angrily accused City officials of dis­respecting him on his birthday just days after helping Pellegrini’s side win the Premier League title before claiming the club then denied him the opportunity to spend time with his 28 year-old brother who had been suffering from illness for two years, his reaffirmation to the club has been warmly welcomed.

    The Ivorian, currently in New York preparing to take on Liverpool tonight (kick-off: 04:00, UAE time), has stressed any ill feeling towards the club or manager Pellegrini are now in the past and all his efforts will be concentrated on the new campaign ahead.

    “I’m feeling fine. It’s good to start training again. It’s been a difficult pre-season. Unfortunately it was a difficult summer for my family,” said Toure. “When you lose a broth­er it is always difficult and he was young too. We were very sad, all the family.

    “He had been sick for two years. But he knew I loved football and he was telling me ‘go to the World Cup and enjoy it. If you stay with me and don’t participate in the World Cup I would not be happy. I would love to see you doing your best and trying to help the country’.

    “He was my brother, he loved football. When he was sick in Man­chester he was watching every game I was playing in. After them I was coming to see him in hospital. I think we need to try to move on and try to think about the next step.”

    His spectacular post season fall-out with City, with agent Dimitri Seluk making a number of bizarre claims over his apparent birthday snub, looked certain to end his spell in Manchester.

    Now though, Toure is ready to put the whole sorry affair behind him and he added: “I’m very happy to join the team and the manager.

    “Everyone is very positive. Last year was a good season and this year, I hope and think it will be amazing because all the big teams are signing good players. It was not a case of me wanting to leave the club. I stayed quiet, I believe that is the right way, and at the end of the day it’s my decision. I will stay at Man City for as long as possible.

    “The matter is closed now. The most important thing was to try to focus again. With the loss of my brother it was quite hard. I am a Muslim, I believe in God. Some­times you can have everything – but this was a difficult situation.

    “Last season was quite difficult at first but in the end it was fantastic – two trophies. This year we’ll try to do our best, we are looking to do well in the Champions League.”

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