MANCHESTER, July 19- Ivory Coast international midfielder Yaya Toure moved to end speculation about his future stating he was committed to Premier League champions Manchester City.
Toure, who scored 20 goals in City’s run to the title, told Sky Sports News that he wanted to honour his contract at the Etihad Stadium which runs until 2017.
“The fans have always been good to me, they’ve always been good to my family,” Toure said.
“I want to stay. I will always honour my contract. I don’t think about all this speculation. It’s a big pleasure to stay and enjoy the next season.”
Toure’s agent Dimitry Seluk sparked speculation about his future by claiming the midfielder was hurt by the club’s failure to mark his 31st birthday – despite a video on the club’s website showing Toure being presented with a birthday cake.
Further stories followed as Seluk claimed his client had been shown a lack of respect by City, and he was linked with Paris St Germain before, in recent days, rivals Manchester United emerged as another possible destination.
But Toure, who moved to City from Barcelona in 2010, described the speculation as “disappointing”.
“Everything is fine now,” he said. “There was a lot of speculation, you know. I think sometimes it’s quite disappointing. I need to do something for the fans, it’s important to let them know. They’ve done a lot for me. The team is preparing well and we will try to win again next season.”
Seluk told Sky Sports News: “I would like to say Yaya will stay at City. He won’t go to any club. Everybody can stop speculation about this.
“Yaya will stay at Manchester City 100 per cent. He has a contract, he will work very hard and I hope this season he will be the best player in England.”
Although Seluk is seen as the source of so much of the speculation, Toure backed his agent.
“He’s quite strong sometimes, but he’s a very good guy,” he said.
“To be honest, we never wanted to talk about money. There are more important things than money. To be happy, healthy. Respect as well is very important.”
Seluk was even able to laugh at some of the more stories that have emerged in recent weeks.
“I hope now everybody will have a very friendly relationship,” he said. “I hope his next birthday they will celebrate together.”
