Re: Yaya. The Ultimate Monster
Manchester City are not worried that Yaya Toure will try and leave the club, despite his agent's claims that he is unhappy, and are adamant that the midfielder is appreciated and respected at the Etihad Stadium, a source told ESPN.
The former Barcelona player has three years left on the lucrative contract he signed last year and City, who have no plans to renegotiate it, are confident he will still be at the club next season.
Dimitry Seluk, Toure's representative, had claimed his client was shown a lack of respect when City failed to wish him a happy birthday last week.
His allegations were followed by tweets from Toure's official account where the 31-year-old said: "Everything Dimitry said is true. He speaks for me. I will give an interview after [the] World Cup to explain."
And Seluk told Sky Sports News: "If Manchester City does not respect [the] player, how can he be motivated playing for this team?... Of course, Yaya will also speak with staff and I hope after that will take a decision. Until now, nobody from the staff call and say 'sorry Yaya'. If they don't want Yaya, no problem, they can leave at any moment."
But City, who are conscious that Seluk also suggested Toure wanted a new challenge and could leave after they won the Premier League in 2012, are insistent that the 24-goal player has been treated well this season.
Players and staff sang happy birthday to him on a plane during their post-season trip to Abu Dhabi last week while the club's official Twitter account also wished him well on the day he turned 31.
In an interview this week, chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak nominated Toure's Capital One Cup final goal against Sunderland as his favourite moment of the season while manager Manuel Pellegrini has given him greater responsibility.
Toure has been awarded the vice-captaincy and taken more penalties and free-kicks, helping him finish the season with a career-best total of 24 goals.
Toure is also understood to be a popular member of the City squad and teammate Samir Nasri has described him as one of the best three players in the world.
Seluk had told the Sun: "Yaya is so upset he's thinking of leaving City. There are a number of things that have happened that have left Yaya feeling bitterly upset. He must concentrate on the World Cup now. But City have treated him with disrespect and have really hurt him.
"What happened at his birthday meant the club don't care about him. It was proof. They can say whatever they want -- 'Oh we like him but we forgot.'
"Forgot? About Yaya? The player who helped you to be two-time Premier League champions? The guy who helped you win the FA Cup and the League Cup?"
Toure, a 2010 signing from Barcelona, is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2017.
