Yes to Yaya! Toure vows to continue making history as he agrees new £45m, four-year deal at City

By Ian Ladyman

PUBLISHED: 09:12 EST, 4 April 2013 | UPDATED: 05:52 EST, 5 April 2013


Yaya Toure has vowed to lead another assault on the Barclays Premier League next season after committing his future to Manchester City with a new four-year contract.

The midfielder, 29, finally signed a deal worth more than £200,000 a week after months of negotiations with the defending champions.

And having signalled his intention effectively to end his career at the Etihad Stadium, Toure believes Roberto Mancini’s City will make up for their  disappointing title defence by coming back much stronger next season.

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All smiles: Yaya Toure signs a new contract witnessed by City director of football Txiki Begiristain

All smiles: Yaya Toure signs a new contract witnessed by City director of football Txiki Begiristain

Put it there: Toure shakes hands with Begiristain

Put it there: Toure shakes hands with Begiristain

Warm embrace: Toure hugs Begiristain after putting pen to paper on his new deal

Warm embrace: Toure hugs Begiristain after putting pen to paper on his new deal

 

The Ivory Coast international said: 'This is where I want to be. When I first arrived at City every time I went to sleep I would dream about us winning something; now it is about us being the best team in whatever competition we take part in.

'I will never forget how I have been treated here by the fans, the club and the owners and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to finish my career as a Manchester City player.

'I want to continue winning titles and trophies and continue to make history. I have enjoyed all of my time here and can't wait for the next chapter.

'This is an incredible club to be part of with fans that support the team to the end whatever the circumstances.'

Turning the focus to next season's title challenge, he added: 'Of course now it looks likely that we will not successfully defend the Premier League title and that it is sad for all of us but we can still finish second and win the FA Cup for second time in three years and that is still an achievement for a club that won nothing for a long time.

'We must try to finish on a high note and then start preparing to win more next season. Football is always a challenge and always a puzzle to solve and that is why we all love the game.

'You have to use your skill, intelligence and strength to constantly improve and that is what we at City intend to do.'

The deal is done! Yaya Toure on his phone at Carrington today as he agreed a new four-year contract at Manchester City worth around £45m

The deal is done! Yaya Toure on his phone at Carrington today as he agreed a new four-year contract at Manchester City worth around £45m

Toure arrived from Barcelona in the summer of 2010 to join his brother Kolo at City. Kolo is out of contract this summer and will also be offered a new deal, albeit on reduced terms as he is now only a reserve defender.

Both will be part of the City squad that goes to Old Trafford on Monday night to face Manchester United, who lead the Premier League by 15 points.

Yaya would have had his pick of top clubs across Europe had he left, but added: ‘This is where I want to be. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to finish my career as a Manchester City player.'

Toure, who joined from Barcelona for £24m in the summer of 2010, had grown frustrated at a lack of progress in contract negotiations and his agent Dimitri Seluk went on record to say the player could move in the summer.

Influence: Toure has been a powerful presence in City's midfield since arriving from Barcelona in 2010

Influence: Toure has been a powerful presence in City's midfield since arriving from Barcelona in 2010

Spectacular: Toure scores on the volley for City against Ajax in the Champions League earlier this season

Spectacular: Toure scores on the volley for City against Ajax in the Champions League earlier this season

But the defending Premier League champions have moved quickly to complete negotiations after the international break and confirmed an agreement has been reached.

His influence in City's midfield remains as strong as ever and Toure was a little confused that a new contract had not been sorted in the first half of the season.

City's hope of retaining the Premier League look slim as rivals United currently enjoy a 15-point lead at the top, but they could reduce that deficit in Monday's derby at Old Trafford.

Toure was majestic as they clawed back eight points to dramatically win the title last season, with his display in the 1-0 win over United last April being particularly impressive.

And no matter what happens this season the midfielder will be key as City search for more trophies in the future - just as he was in his first season at the Etihad, when he scored the winner in the FA Cup final against Stoke to end City's 35-year wait for a major honour.

Happy: Toure has committed himself to City for another four years despite Man United looking likely to snatch the title back this season

Happy: Toure has committed himself to City for another four years despite Man United looking likely to snatch the title back this season

The wait is over: Toure was instrumental in City's FA Cup success of 2011, which ended a trophy drought of 35 years

The wait is over: Toure was instrumental in City's FA Cup success of 2011, which ended a trophy drought of 35 years

 

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You can't blame him. That's how the game is. We all look for more money ourselves. In football, it's just extreme so players aren't sure when to stop asking. Of course, the sums are astronomical and perhaps they shouldn't be going into a few pockets but that's how it is. Hopefully, things will change. Players need to stay grounded rather than become alienated from the fans.

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Lol I'm loving how the Rags are mourning... Are they forgetting they are paying Rooney AND RVP more than that... HEY BUT UNLIKE THE RAGS... AT LEAST WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEBTS :) - Sheikh AGÜEROOOOOOO00000000oooooo, UAE, 4/04/13 3:45PM We have debts , admittedly , but we are a business . Toys don't have debts until their sugar daddy gets bored and clears out .

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Absolute joke, no player is worth more than £5k a week, NO PLAYER. Police, Ambulance, Fire Bridge and all their departments deserves this kind of money - Life savers as do the soliders fighting a war every single day we did not start, yet they get less than £20k a YEAR. I love football but this kind of money is ludacris.

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As a Man U I would have loved Toure in our team, but this season he looks slower and unfit. As for the contact it just makes city look stupid giving in that easy, he was already bound to a contract and they had nothing to lose.

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Johnny B, Exeter, 05/04/13 08:28 ------------------------------------Thought all Citeh fans were from Manchester? #Manchesterisred - James B, Lincoln, 5/4/2013 10:15 You will probably find that the likes of Johnny B and myself have Mancunian accents. Writing on a comments page doesn't really take into account who you are, where you come from etc etc.

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45 Million ? My jaw just dropped to the floor. God, football fans are stupid. In these times .... this is obscene.

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Leaving by sat if I havnt been offered another 4 year contract worth 200 000 pound a week. Threat worked then. In 4 years time 33 years old midfielder earning obscene money. Rooney used this tactic to blackmail freightening clubs into paying. Supporters are starting to see through this and are disgusted. Love it when they kiss the badge in sign of loyality it's a joke.

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most people don't make 250k in their life. what a joke our game is now. - joshmay, reading, 4/4/2013 15:51 Yeah but Bankers still get more for doing far less !!

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Johnny B, Exeter, 05/04/13 08:28 ------------------------------------Thought all Citeh fans were from Manchester? #Manchesterisred

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Dave - Wilmslow, Wilmslow We're you asking the same question when city were a bottom table side just going about their own business when know one cared...?? I don't think so. So obviously, now we are wealthy, with no debt, and can purchase better players, and won the prem which for some reason every thick rag thinks its rightly theirs then its an issue..?? So who has got the problem? Obviously you! Thanks for your obsession Dave, makes us feel even more mighty than we already are.

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