Man City Midfielder Yaya Toure Issues Statement

Yaya Toure announces international retirement on a dramatic day for the Manchester City midfielder .

Yaya Toure has announced his retirement from international football on the day that Pep Guardiola cast fresh doubt over his Manchester City future.

Toure has only played once for City this season – and hasn’t been included in any of Guardiola’s Premier League squads.

And he is set to miss Wednesday’s EFL Cup tie with Swansea, with City’s manager revealing the Ivorian international will be exiled until he apologises for comments made by his controversial agent.

Dmitry Seluk claimed Toure had been humiliated by Guardiola’s decision to omit him from City’s Champions League squad.

While the 33-year-old midfielder’s club future looks in serious doubt, he has drawn a line under his international career – describing the decision as ‘the most difficult match of my life.’

In a statement he said: “Thank you to the Elephants!

“Writing this note was probably ‘the most difficult match of my life.’ After 14 years at the highest level, I’m sure this is the right time for me!

“The fact that I am 33 now, the intensity of training and the multitude of games are not the reasons why I am making this decision. Football is everything to me and it gave me so much in my career that I no longer feel able to set myself new goals as a player with the Elephants of Ivory Coast.

“This decision I have made has come gradually, it has slowly matured in my head. I definitely thought it necessary to wait until the qualifying stages for the next AFCON were over. It was also important for me that I do not disturb the dynamics of the national team.

Man City Midfielder Yaya Toure Issues Statement

Guardiola Axes Yaya Toure From Champions League Squad

Yaya Toure’s days at Manchester City look to be numbered after he failed to make the squad for the club’s Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday.

The Ivorian is not carrying an injury and didn’t feature in the first league game of the season against Sunderland over the weekend.

Manager Pep Guardiola has never been convinced by the 33-year-old and was the man who sold him to City from Barcelona back in 2010 for £24 million.

Since then, Toure has been a mainstay in the City midfield and played a huge rolling in the club’s two Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014.

He also scored the winner against Stoke City in the 2011 FA Cup Final as the club ended its 35-year trophy drought.

There had been talk of Toure attracting interest from big spending Chinese clubs over the summer but nothing concrete materialised and the player was used by Guardiola in City’s preseason outings.

Leroy Sane is still nursing a hamstring injury so has also remained in Manchester, while Belgian defender Jason Denayer could be another on the way out after he was also omitted.

City take on Steaua in Bucharest tomorrow night, with the return leg at the Etihad Stadium taking place next week.

Guardiola Axes Yaya Toure From Champions League Squad

Leroy Sane Close To Joining Man City In £37m Deal

Leroy Sane is close to completing a move to Manchester City from Schalke for a fee of £37m plus add-ons.

The Bundesliga club announced on Monday that the midfielder had not joined their pre-season training camp in Austria, and was in Manchester instead.

City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on 21 July that he wanted to sign Sane.

The 20-year-old helped Germany reach the semi-finals at Euro 2016, having made his international debut in November.

He told Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel earlier this summer that he wanted to leave the club, according to German media.

Sane, a product of the youth system at Schalke, made his senior debut for them in April 2014.

He scored eight goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season as Schalke finished fifth, missing out on Champions League qualification for the second year in a row.

BBC

Leroy Sane Close To Joining Man City In £37m Deal

Confirmed: Yeboah Joins FC Twente on Loan from Manchester City

Ghana Under-20 midfielder Yaw Yeboah has joined  Eredivisie side FC Twente from Manchester City on a season-long loan deal.

Yaw Yeboah

The 19 year-old last season spent a season long loan at French side Lille but only managed to play 174 minutes for the team.

Yeboah, who can play as a winger or striker  was named the Best Player at the 2015 Africa Youth Championship in Senegal.

City signed Yeboah from Ghana’s Right to Dream Academy in 2014, and he impressed at last year’s FIFA U20 World Cup, scoring goals against Austria and Argentina.

Last month, Yeboah claimed that Pep Guardiola had immediate plans for him, but at his age a work permit was never likely to happen, and he will continue his development in the Netherlands.

Confirmed: Yeboah Joins FC Twente on Loan from Manchester City

I Will Prove Myself In England-Pep Guardiola

New Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he moved to the Premier League to prove himself in England.

Around 7,000 fans turned up at Etihad Stadium to hear the 45-year-old speak for the first time as City manager

“That is why I am here. I proved myself in Barcelona and after I proved myself in Germany I wanted to prove myself in England,” he said.

“I cannot do that alone. I need the players, the staff. We need our fans. Without that, it is impossible.”

The Spaniard joins City after three years at Bayern Munich where he won a hat-trick of Bundesliga titles but failed to reach a Champions League final.

However, the former Spain international midfielder did win that tournament twice during his four years as Barcelona boss.

He believes that a strong team spirit will be integral to City’s success.

“I like the players who don’t just think for themselves but think about Manchester City,” said Guardiola.

“We are all the people who are working here. The reason we are here is thinking ‘what can we do to make this club a better club’.

“I don’t want the guys to think about what the club can do for them. We are here to make Manchester City a better club in the next three, four, five years.”

He added: “One of the reasons I decided to come to Manchester City is I know from (sporting director) Txiki Begiristain how good they are working with the young players – 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, they grow and grow and imagine they can join us in the first team.”

BBC

I Will Prove Myself In England-Pep Guardiola

Inter Milan Keen On Signing Yaya Toure

Inter Milan are keen to sign Manchester City’s veteran title-winning midfielder Yaya Toure.

The 33-year-old Ivorian has a year remaining on his contract at the Etihad.

He was sold to City, then managed by current Inter boss Roberto Mancini, for £24m by Pep Guardiola in 2010, when the pair were at Barcelona.

Terms are still to be agreed and a source said it was ’50-50′ whether the transfer would go through.

New City boss Guardiola is not due to be unveiled by the club for another fortnight.

He is working hard on reshaping his squad, though, with midfielder Ilkay Gundogan – a £20m capture from Borussia Dortmund – unlikely to be his last signing.

Speculation about Toure’s future has been rife, given his previous discarding by Guardiola, although the Ivorian has indicated a willingness to work with the man who selected him in central defence for the 2009 Champions League final win over Manchester United.

Inter see Toure as the kind of big name that would push them back into Europe’s elite.

The club have struggled since winning the 2010 Champions League final under Jose Mourinho and failed to qualify for this season’s Champions League following a fourth-place finish in Serie A.

However, manager Mancini now has the extra financial backing supplied by Inter’s new Chinese owners, the Suning Commerce Group.

The company has taken a 70% stake in Inter as part of an overall 750m-euro (£590m) deal.

BBC

Inter Milan Keen On Signing Yaya Toure

Guardiola Keen On Ghanaian Player Return To Man City

Ghana’s Under-20 midfielder Yaw Yeboah has asserted that manager Pep Guardiola wants him back at English giants Manchester City.

The 19 year old was sent out on loan to French ligue 1 side Lille last season having made three appearances for the first team and 20 for the second team.

 

The talented Ghana youngster has attracted the attention from Guardiola, who is keen on bringing him back to Eastland.

 

“Pep Guardiola want me back at City, he has contacted me and says he wants me in his team,” he told Radio Universe

 

“He has assured me that he has plans for me so I should work hard. It is a big privilege for me. For a coach like Pep Guardiola to contact you that he wants you in his team.”

 

The Black Satellites player bagged a brace for the team in their 4-0 win over Ethiopia in the 2017 Africa Youth Championship qualifier played yesterday at the Cape Coast Staium

 

Guardiola Keen On Ghanaian Player Return To Man City

Pep Guardiola Will Take Manchester City To A New Level - Chairman

Pep Guardiola will take Manchester City “to a new level”, according to club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

Ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola has left Bayern Munich to replace Manuel Pellegrini as City manager this summer.

“I’m absolutely excited about Pep joining our team,” said Al Mubarak. “I consider Pep to be one of, if not the best manager, in football today.

“We are getting a manager that epitomises passion and commitment. He is a proven winner.”

Guardiola was victorious in the Champions League twice at Barcelona, including their treble-winning campaign in 2008-09.

He also won the German league title with Bayern for three successive seasons, although he failed to win the Champions League with the Bundesliga outfit.

Speaking to City’s website, Al Mubarak added: “I have no doubt that he will transform our team to a new level.”

City finished fourth in the Premier League in 2015-16 as they failed to reclaim the title they won under Pellegrini in 2014.

However, they won the League Cup and reached the Champions League semi-finals, losing to eventual winners Real Madrid.

Al Mubarak praised the efforts of Pellegrini but admitted this season had been a disappointment, adding: “We had high expectations.”

BBC

Pep Guardiola Will Take Manchester City To A New Level - Chairman

Guardiola Makes First Signing At Man City

Manchester City have signed Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal.

The 25-year-old, who will miss Euro 2016 and the start of the new Premier League season through injury, becomes the first signing for incoming City manager Pep Guardiola.

City have reportedly paid the Bundesliga side a fee of about £20m.

“When I learned of City’s interest my heart was set on coming. Things things have moved very quickly,” he said.

The Premier League club’s director of football Txiki Begiristain has praised Gundogan’s “work ethic and technical ability”.

“He is an intelligent and versatile midfielder who can operate in a number of different roles,” Begiristain added. “He will be a very important player for us in the coming years.”

Gundogan dislocated his kneecap in training at the start of May and was also sidelined for the 2014 World Cup with a back problem that ruled him out for almost the entire 2013-14 season.

“The opportunity to work with a coach like Pep Guardiola is something I am really looking forward to and I am flattered to be the first signing the club has made this summer,” he added.

“I will give everything to help us win titles both in England and the Champions League. These are exciting times.

“I have my best years ahead of me and I think we can achieve great things together.”

The midfielder joined Dortmund from Nuremberg in 2011 and helped them reach the 2013 Champions League final, before signing a new contract in 2015 that still had a year to run.

BBC

Guardiola Makes First Signing At Man City

Manchester City Stars Ready to Make History

Fernando says Manchester City ‘s players are ready to “write our names in history” tonight when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

Brazilian midfielder Fernando will be charged with the task of anchoring City’s midfield, along with compatriot Fernandinho, the pair facing the challenge of thwarting Cristiano Ronaldo and his marauding Real team-mates.

But Fernando believes City are capable of pulling off a shock by overhauling favourites Real over the two legs of their semi-final and reaching the final at Milan’s San Siro on May 28.

Fernando in action for Manchester City

“It’s a great competition, the best in the world, and we have reached the semi-finals,” said Fernando. “So we want to do our best and try to reach the final, to write our name in history.

“It’s a competition in which every player wants to play, and one everyone wants to win, so I’m pleased to be here.

“It will be difficult against Real Madrid but we also have great players who are in a good moment, and I hope we can surprise them at home and then go and have a great game in Madrid as well.

“The crowd made a great difference against PSG and we hope on Tuesday they can push us through this time as well.”

Fernando has emerged as a key man for City in recent months and has forged an impressive midfield partnership with Fernandinho, providing the platform for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Sergio Aguero to flourish.

Manchester City Stars Ready to Make History

Adam Johnson Appeals Against Jail Sentence For Sex Offence

Former Sunderland and Manchester City winger, Adam Johnson, has lodged an appeal against his six-year jail sentence for child sex offences.

Bradford Crown Court said on Tuesday that the appeal was with the Court of Appeal in London.

The appeal was also confirmed on Facebook via the Adam Johnson’s Appeal Fight page, run by his sister.

Johnson pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual activity with the girl and another of “grooming” – building an emotional connection with a child to gain trust for sexual motives.

In March, the 28-year-old Johnson was found guilty by a jury of another charge of sexual activity with the schoolgirl.

Johnson, who played 12 times for England, was sacked by Premier League club Sunderland in February.

Adam Johnson Appeals Against Jail Sentence For Sex Offence

City Begin Negotiations For Dortmund Midfielder

Manchester City are in advanced negotiations with Borussia Dortmund over the transfer of Ilkay Gundogan, although the clubs remain £8.1m (€10m) apart in their valuation of the midfielder.

Gundogan in action for Dortmund in Bundesliga match

Sky sources understand City have indicated a willingness to pay £28.3m (€35m) for Gundogan, although Dortmund value the player at £36.4m (€45m). Pep Guardiola sees Gundogan, 25, as a key part of his plans when he takes over from Manuel Pellegrini on July 1 and is determined City sign him.

Ikay Gundogan on international duty for Germany

Dortmund’s willingness to sell is driven by the fact the player has shown no indication he will commit to a new contract – his current deal expires in the summer of 2017. Despite that, Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke and Sporting Director Michael Zorc value the player at £36.4m (€45m).

City Begin Negotiations For Dortmund Midfielder

United Triumph Over City In Manchester Derby

Marcus Rashford scored on his Manchester derby debut as United all but ended City’s title hopes with a 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

Marcus Rashford cools shoots pass Joe Hart to give United all three points

The United academy product’s 16th-minute strike proved to be the decisive goal as United ground out a much-needed victory courtesy of Rashford’s fifth goal on his eighth appearance for the club.

Manchester City vs Manchester United

City’s cause was hampered by the loss of Raheem Sterling and Joe Hart in either half to injuries, and they failed to really test David de Gea, Sergio Aguero’s header against the post the closest they came to equalising.

David De Gea celebrates Manchester United’s opening and only goal

The result sees United maintain their quest for Champions League qualification and was the perfect tonic as they atoned for their Europa League exit to Liverpool in style.

 

City remain 15 points adrift of leaders Leicester with just eight games to play and are now mired in the race for the top four, with United, level with fifth-placed West Ham, just a point off their city rivals.

United Triumph Over City In Manchester Derby

Yaw Yeboah Yearns For More Playing Time at Lille

Ghana youth international, Yaw Yeboah is hoping for more playing time at French Ligue 1 side, Lille OSC after recovering from an injury that has kept him out for a while.

The player has struggled to get into the first team of Coach Frederic Anntonetti’s side, but, is hopeful that he will make that breakthrough soon.

“I have been working hard on my fitness and training regime and, hopefully it should begin to yield positive results soon.” He said in an interview.

Yeboah is on loan to Lille from English Premiership side, Manchester City who rates him very highly at the club. He could return to the English giants at the end of the campaign.

But, Yeboah is hoping to gain a lot more playing time at the French club before making a possible return to his parent club in England.

“I have not taken any decision yet concerning my future,” he said, adding that “a decision will be made at the end of the season”.

Yaw Yeboah Yearns For More Playing Time at Lille

Reaction: Dede Ayew Was Robbed Of African Player Award

CAF Robbed Ayew And Toure – Black Stars Legend

Gabonese captain and Dortmund forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng was announced the king of African football at the GLO/CAF African footballer of the year awards gala in Abuja. Lagos.

 

The Gabonese striker tagged, ‘Africa’s Neymar’ pulled 143 votes whilst his nearest competitor and four-times African footballer of the year, Yaya Toure had 136 votes. Ghanaian midfielder and Swansea City top goal scorer pulled 112 votes.

Footballl fans have been discussing on Social media and many football pundits alike have also been doing same asking, how Aubamayeng beat favourite Yaya Toure who was tipped to win the accolade for a record fifth time and Ayew who had an outside chance should Toure not win.

 

Ghanaian football legend and former black stars captain, Odartey Lamptey expressed his disappointment at how in his opinion the pair – Dede Ayew and Yaya Toure were ignored. In a radio interview with Kumasi based Boss FM 93.7 FM, he said,”I don’t know which criteria is used to determine the winner of the African footballer of the year award. Personally I think the favourites for the award were Dede Ayew and Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng, I say so from how smartly they were dressed.

Former Black Stars and Aston Villa player, Odartey Lamptey

“Dede performed better at the AFCON hosted by Equatorial Guinea and was Ghana’s top goal scorer at the tourney. Yaya Toure started slowly but in the quarter and semi finals, the Ivorian was a force to reckon with . Aubamayeng did qualify Gabon to the tournament alright but his performance and that of his team did not march what Dede and Yaya had with their respective nations.”

 

Odartey added, “at club level Dede performed well with Olympique de Marseille in French ligue before joining Swansea City in the English premier league on a free transfer. Toure had an equally good season with Manchester City in the EPL in the 2014/15 season. Aubamayeng did well with Dortmund, he scored goals and performed well in the German Bundesliga. That not withstanding the battle was between Yaya Toure and Dede Ayew.”

 

The former Aston Villa player concluded, ”If Dede had won no one will question the decision because Ayew and Toure were the only deserving winners because they’ve been the most consistent African footballers during the year under review.”

Reaction: Dede Ayew Was Robbed Of African Player Award

Verdict: Manchester City Win Guardiola Race

Pep Guardiola Will Be Coach In Manchester; Yes, It Is Official!

 

Manchester City have won the race to secure the both the signature and services of in-demand coach, Josep Guardiola Sala.

 

The former Barcelona coach has already spoke of his intentions to coach in the English premier and many clubs notably Manchester clubs United and City along with London based Chelsea have been battling for the most sort after manger.

 

 

In a poll organised by sportscrusader.com on twitter, the Citizens were voted to be the club to secure the services of the current coach of FC Bayern Munchen and treble winner with Barcelona, Pep Guardiola.

A number of Football fans and followers of the sportscrusader.com twitter account took to the social media page to vote in the poll for the club in their opinion will win the race for Pep.

 

Manchester City pulled 44% of the total vote to record the majority of votes casted and neighbours and bitter rivals United had 36% with chelsea recording just 9% even lower than what other teams (unlikely destinations) had – 10%.

 

How the fans voted on Pep’s likely club in England

Verdict: Manchester City Win Guardiola Race

Omen: Pep"s Move To City, Good Or Bad For Yaya

Pep Is Coming, Will Toure Leave?

Pep Guardiola’s link to Manchester city is gathering much momentum with 5 months left on his contract with Bayern München.

 

Officially he (Pep) and club, Bayern have confirmed he will not renew but what still remains gloomy is his next destination. Though reports have linked the Spaniard to Manchester United and Chelsea,  it’s Manchester city that remain firm favourite to secure his services.

Yaya Toure playing in the sky blue colours of Manchester city

The question now many are asking is will Pep’s move to the Etihad stadium push Yaya Toure out? The pair didn’t move on a level ground when they were with Barcelona and it’s this that has prompted many to ask what the future hold for Toure.

Flashback: Yaya Toure playing for Barcelona in an el clasico game against Real Madrid

Reports in Italy claim,  there has been conversation between Toure and his former boss and Manger of Inter Milan, Roberto Mancini. The 33 – year old Ivorian was linked with a move to the San Siro in the summer but looks like with the arrival of Guardiola the move might happen this time around.

 

Omen: Pep"s Move To City, Good Or Bad For Yaya

Arsenal End 2015 At The Summit Of Barclays Premier League Table

Arsenal have ended the year 2015 at the summit of the Barclays Premier League after Leicester City went level on points on Tuesday as they drew 0-0 with title rivals Manchester City at the King Power Stadium.

The clash between the division’s two top-scoring sides provided plenty of entertaining moments but keepers Kasper Schmeichel and Joe Hart were equal to everything thrown at them.

Jamie Vardy wasted Leicester’s best chance late in the first half while Manchester City, who have not won away in the league since mid-September, went close through Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi.

Leicester, who suffered their first defeat in 11 league games at Liverpool on Saturday, have 39 points from 19 games and trail Arsenal on goal difference.

Manchester City leapfrogged Tottenham Hotspur to go into third place and trail the top two by three points.

“It was a pretty fair result,” Leicester keeper Schmeichel told BT Sport. “They had a few chances and we had some chances.

“It’s slightly disappointing but we’ll take a point. We are a very good team, we proved that at the back end of last season, and this season too, and we are right up there in the mix.

“We are halfway through this season, it is still only December and there is a long way to go yet,” added Schmeichel.

© Reuters

Arsenal End 2015 At The Summit Of Barclays Premier League Table

Fergie Influence: Guardiola Chooses United Over City

Pep Guardiola Reveals His Next Team

 

Former Barcelona coach is perhaps the hottest and most sorted after coach and his pronunciation that he will leave Bayern München at the end of the 2015/16 season has caused a huge scramble for his signature.

 

The Spaniard has been linked to many premier league clubs with Manchester city as the firm favourite to secure his services. In recent times Chelsea, who recently parted ways with fans favourite Jose Mourinho have been rumoured to require his services. The reported figure of 20 million pounds purported to be what Roman Abramovich is offering is anything to go by that will Pep the highest paid coach in the whole world.

 

Pep is rumored to have revealed his next managerial destination is England to a group of friends during a time out.

The source said: “Pep always found the club (Manchester United fascinating. He likes clubs with huge tradition and United certainly have this.

“He won’t be short of options when it comes to deciding his next move and Manchester City are an ambitious club. But United could still prove to be the more attractive proposition.”

 

Now this news will interest the Glazers who are the owners of Manchester United to act swiftly in making a decision than wait for struggling Louis Van Gaal to find his feet after almost 18 months in the English premier league.

Fergie Influence: Guardiola Chooses United Over City