Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has revealed he plans to remain in the Premier League next season if he fails to convince Pep Guardiola he is deserving of a new contract.
The 33-year-old’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the current campaign and Guardiola has offered no assurances that Toure will be awarded an extension leaving his long-term future up in the air.
Toure’s agent has already confirmed talks have been held with other clubs about a summer switch and the City midfielder has now confirmed he wants to remain in England whether at City or not, although his preference is to remain at the Etihad.
“That is why I want to stay in England,” Toure told The National in the wake of their frantic 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. “That is why I want to stay in England. Otherwise I go to China or wherever, because it is that type of game I want to play in.
“If I want to play slow, I will go maybe to Bahrain or France, to Spain or Germany where it is going to be slowed down. In England, it is fantastic. My preference is City.”
Toure started the season out of the side and deemed surplus to requirements by Guardiola, but the City manager made the shock decision to call the experienced midfielder back in from the cold in November and the Ivorian has basically been a regular ever since due to Ilkay Gundogan’s season-ending knee injury.
However, Toure’s vulnerabilities were all but exposed against Liverpool. The former Barcelona ace insists these are the games that make him want to continue playing in the Premier League but they are also the matches that reveal his biggest weaknesses.
Toure was a sitting duck; sapped of all energy by the time Guardiola threw him a lifeline and subbed him off with 25 minutes remaining. It was after his withdrawal that gave the City squad a whole new lease of life and they almost beat Liverpool only for Sergio Aguero to waste a glorious opportunity with seconds remaining.
The City No.42 has scored four league goals in 17 appearances for City this season but is yet to register an assist. Failure to do so this season would be something he hasn’t done in a league campaign in a City shirt before.
For more stats on Yaya Toure, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
