The midfielder was said to be thinking of leaving the Premier League champions over a row involving his birthday, but Mory Toure believes the matter will soon be resolved
EXCLUSIVE
By Victor Vago
Yaya Toure’s father expects his son to stay at Manchester City this summer despite the midfielder being heavily linked with a move away from Eastlands.
The midfielder’s adviser, Dmitry Seluk, revealed last month that the 31-year-old was considering leaving the club because he felt under-appreciated after the Etihad Stadium outfit’s owners had failed to acknowledge his birthday.
French outift Paris St-Germain were thought to be leading the race for the Cote d’Ivoire international’s signature, with City officials increasingly frustrated with Toure’s refusal to commit his future to the club.
Toure has since said he will clarify his future for certain after the World Cup, but Mory Toure has vehemently denied his son will quit the Premier League champions.
“No, he won’t leave,” Mory Toure told Goal. “And it’s not even my wish that he leaves Manchester City. It’s said that the most wished for changes bring their sadness. And I reconfirm that he won’t leave.
“If Yaya wanted Manchester City to pay particular attention to the date of his birthday, it’s because he felt that it was the right moment for the club to show him their consideration for all the sacrifices made for City to be at this level.
“It’s a situation he didn’t appreciate. And as he’s a boy who doesn’t keep his frustrations to himself, he preferred to express himself. But I think it’s a situation which will be resolved.”
Yaya Toure’s City edged out brother Kolo’s Liverpool side to win the Premier League title last season, making their father proud to see his sons battle it out for one of football’s top prizes.
Mory Toure added: “I didn’t have any pressure during the final moments of the Premier League. It’s true that there was a real fight between Liverpool and Manchester City, but I was certain that either Kolo or Yaya would be a champion. It was a source of pride for me to have my two sons at the peak of English football.
“It’s true that there wasn’t pressure for me, but we experienced the uncertainty with passion and interest. We were certain that one Toure would be a champion of England.
“We had to wait to find out which one in order to celebrate. Because, in any case, it was the family which would come away greater from this season which will remain unforgettable for us.
“I was a bit sad for Kolo, because he’s the older brother. No right of birth, he should have won the title with Liverpool. But it wasn’t the case for him. But he’s happy about Yaya’s performance and has always admired him.”
Both players have joined the Ivory Coast squad for a World Cup campaign in which they hope to qualify from a fairly evenly balanced group containing Japan, Colombia and Greece.
And Mory Toure has backed the Manchester City star in particular to shine in Brazil this summer, despite recent distractions off the pitch.
“Yaya is a source of pride for his brother Kolo and for me,” he said. “When you have such a son, you can only be happy.
“I thank God for this grace he’s given me to have a son who develops at this level and on whom the Ivory Coast is counting to have a good run at the World Cup. He deserves the confidence of the national team coach Sabri Lamouchi and I’m certain he’ll meet the challenge.”