Yaya Toure has revealed his delight at signing a new 12-month contract at Manchester City, just as it looked he might be leaving the club.
The Ivorian has been at the Etihad Stadium since the summer of 2010, and has played an integral part in winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and two League Cups. But it appeared as though his time in Manchester was winding to an end, with his contract in the final year and head coach Pep Guardiola refusing to include him in his plans for the first three months of last season.
Toure was reintroduced to the City side when relations between his agent, Dimitri Seluk, and Guardiola cooled, and he went on to appear 30 times in all competitions. Even so, he was due to become a free agent this summer when a number of clubs would likely have taken an interest, but the 34-year-old has now ended speculation over his future by penning a new 12-month deal.
“I’m delighted. I told myself the journey at City is not done and when I talked to the manager I was very delighted,” Toure told the club’s website. “When I was first coming here [in 2010] I was trying to be part of a new story, of something special at this club. I am very lucky now to be part of a great club with great players around me who are helping me to achieve my targets.
“I want to win trophies, that is very important to me. I want to enjoy it at this age still and remaining here is a massive thing. It is a great club, going in the right direction with new players who are coming in. Our mentality is always to win week in week out and I’m delighted with the fans as well.”
Meanwhile, Benfica have claimed City have sealed the transfer of their goalkeeper Ederson. The Blues have been heavily linked with the 23-year-old Brazilian since the end of last season, and the Portuguese club claim the Premier League giants have paid a world record fee for a goalkeeper, believed to be in the region of £35million.
