Toure will leave Man City this summer as club prepare to give midfielder an emotional farewell in final home game
Toure will leave Man City this summer as club prepare to give midfielder an emotional farewell in final home game
Yaya Toure will be afforded an emotional farewell by Manchester City next week as his eight-year spell comes to an end.
The Ivorian, an integral figure as City stabilised themselves as a top club, is set for his final home game against Brighton on Wednesday.
Toure has not started a Premier League game this season and Pep Guardiola confirmed the 34-year-old will depart in the coming weeks when his contract runs down.
Guardiola also revealed the Brighton match will be focused on Toure saying goodbye to adoring fans at the Etihad Stadium.
‘He will not stay this season,’ Guardiola said.
‘The Brighton game we will give him what he deserves. One of the most beautiful farewells a player can receive. All the game will we be focused on winning the game against Brighton for Yaya, and we are going to try to do it for him.
Toure scored the winning goal for City against Stoke in the 2011 FA Cup final at Wembley
‘We have amazing facilities but the club became what they did because of the players. Yaya Toure came here when this idea for the club started, and what we are in this moment is thanks to what this guy has done.’
Toure is expected to be given a similar send-off to Pablo Zabaleta. The Argentine full-back, who left this time last year, broke down in tears when addressing supporters on the pitch.
Banners were unfurled and messages beamed on screens, while Zabaleta was presented with a lifetime season ticket.
Guardiola added: ‘We cannot forget the period from Roberto Mancini, and especially Manuel Pellegrini, Yaya was the key, key, key player. That's why we are delighted to prepare for Sunday's game, for our celebration, and after for Yaya.’
Meanwhile, Guardiola claimed Vincent Kompany could be fit to face Huddersfield Town on Sunday as City prepare to lift the Premier League trophy.
And the City boss believes their last two results – beating Swansea 5-0 and West Ham 4-1 – is proof his players are not complacent after breaking records this term.
‘Next season we'll start with zero but it's a good sign,’ Guardiola added. ‘I was really impressed with training, everyone wants to play, we are scoring, creating chances. Next season we start again and it will be different but it's a good sign. In the last games we've been in the same levels.’
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