Toure: I want to stay at City forever

Posted Sunday, February 24, 2013 by The Sun

Toure: I want to stay at City forever
TOUR DE FORCE ... Yaya wants to stay at Man City for years

YAYA TOURE has revealed why he has finally found his ideal home with Manchester City and English football.

The Ivory Coast midfielder, 29, has enjoyed a nomadic career — never staying more than three years at any club, not even Barcelona.

But he now feels ready to put down some roots after arriving at the Etihad in summer 2010 and he would like to pledge the rest of his career to City.

Toure believes his game is perfectly suited to Premier League football and feels boss Roberto Mancini has worked out the best way to use him.

He still has two years left on his deal at City but said: “I want to give all to this club for a long time. It’s quite strange because all my career I’ve been with clubs for two or three years.

“Normally I change clubs after one or two years but it’s different here. I want to stay longer.

“Sometimes you’re not happy with something or you don’t feel comfortable in the city and you need change — but not here.

“Of course I’d like to end my career here. For three years it has been enjoyable to be with guys who love you, guys who care about you.”

Toure won a Champions League medal at the Nou Camp but was generally used as a defensive midfielder or even a centre-back.

However at City he has become known as a scorer of crucial goals — such as the FA Cup final winner in 2011 and his vital double at Newcastle in the penultimate game of last season.

Yaya feels the change is down to Mancini and said: “The manager here has known me for a long time.

“He knew me when I played for Monaco against his Inter team. It was he who decided to put me more forward. Since coming to City I have enjoyed my football more because my game is all about attack and what I did at Barcelona was quite different.

“In England the football is all about power, strong running and tackling. I feel like this is home for me and the fans are lovely.”

And Toure is not convinced the brand of football seen in the Nou Camp would work in England. He said: “I don’t think so because in Spain the football is different. More quality, more technical.

“In England, the tempo level is very high, higher than in Spain.

“You don’t have the same time to control the ball and look for a team-mate. You have to be quick, otherwise someone like Kyle Walker will take you in the back! The tempo is fantastic.”

City’s title defence fell apart while Toure was at the African Nations Cup — they are 15 points behind leaders Manchester United going into today’s Chelsea clash.

And he admits it was tough watching his team from afar.

He said: “When your friends need you and you are away it’s always harder.

“You want to be with them. It’s always difficult — I’m African and the tournament makes us leave for one month.

“Your club have to play hard games. Sometimes I feel sad.

“When I was away we didn’t get the right results and January is always hard because we have to play every three days.

“But it’s part of football — we can do nothing about it.”