Yaya Toure looking at PSG move as Manchester City face battle to explain talisman's bizarre behaviour

Manchester City face an increasingly difficult battle to explain Yaya Toure’s bizarre behaviour this summer after the Barclays Premier League champions’ star player claimed he would be open to a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Toure has cast a cloud over City’s post-season title celebrations with some peculiar antics over the past week.

First, the Ivorian midfielder’s agent Dimitry Seluk claimed that Toure had been upset City didn’t give him a birthday cake when he turned 31 recently. Then Toure - who had actually received two cakes from the club  admitted he would consider a transfer back to former club Barcelona.

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Speculation: Yaya Toure has fuelled rumours he will leave Man City by saying PSG move would be 'an honour'

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Fans favourite: Toure scored 24 goals in 49 games for Man City last season

 

Toure: My career's going great, going to City was the right move

 

 

Now City’s top earner has given an interview to a French publication in which he reveals a transfer to the French champions would also appeal.

Toure told France Football: ‘Given the goals of Paris, how could you not be interested in a club like that? PSG have become one of the strongest teams in Europe. It would be an honour to one day play for a club like that - if I can be of service.

‘Given the magnificent season Manchester City have had, everyone talks about me and everything is open. My agent is hanging on the telephone and he knows what he has to do, I have complete confidence in him.

‘Nobody knows what can happen tomorrow, my attention is on the World Cup and we will see afterwards.

‘Yes, I have said I would like to finish my career at Barcelona. You never know because football moves quickly.’

Seluk said last week that he rated Toure staying at City as ‘50-50’ and the player’s comments about PSG will only increase speculation he is looking to move on.

City are viewing the whole charade in its true perspective, given that Seluk is prone to these bizarre tactics whenever he feels his star client is due a new contract.

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No comment: Toure failed to respond when asked where he would be playing next season

Toure - who earns around £250,000-a-week at the Etihad Stadium - got himself a new deal last summer but won’t be so lucky this time.

In all likelihood, he will merely have to explain his comments to manager Manuel Pellegrini when he joins City for pre-season training in America after the World Cup.

All City’s World Cup players will be given a month off from the day they exit the tournament, so it appears likely Toure will catch up with Pellegrini in New York unless the Ivory Coast progress beyond the last eight.

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Birthday-gate: Man City posted a picture of the cake that was presented to Toure on his birthday

Seluk, meanwhile, continues to veer erratically from one standpoint to another. Yesterday he suggested Toure would even accept a backroom role at City once his career is over.

This is highly unlikely, especially as Toure’s stock among supporters begins to fall.  Yesterday, for example, the Manchester Evening News expressed the view that this latest episode has tarnished Toure’s standing for good.

Seluk said: ‘A role at City after his (playing) career? Of course. Like Real Madrid have done with Zinedine Zidane, for example. Zidane played there and afterwards began working for the club.

‘Yaya will need a club in the future. We do not want more money or a longer contract, anything like that, just the right attention. More attention on Yaya and that he feels happy at the club — that is the most important thing. We do not need more money.’