Guardiola confirms Toure’s departure

According to Sky Sports, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed Yaya Toure is to leave the club this summer.

The experienced midfielder joined City from Barcelona in 2010, and during his eight years at the Etihad he has played a total of 315 games for them and score 82 goals in all competitions. Wearing the sky-blue shirt, he has won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cup trophies, along with a single Community Shield in 2012.

Now, turning 35 in a few days, he’s been on the fringes of the team ever since Pep Guardiola took over in 2016. This season he made only 16 appearances in all competitions, by far the fewest since joining the club, and hasn’t scored a single goal.

With Fernandinho and David Silva, who have both been vital in their title-winning run this season, also past the age of 30, the manager is keen on rejuvenating his squad, and it seems the experienced Ivorian will be the first to go.

But Guardiola also took the opportunity to praise Toure, stressing that Manchester City are where they are because of what he has done, and added that the game against Brighton, the last home game of the season, will be about him.