Yaya Toure's decorated eight-year stay at Manchester City will come to an end when his contract expires at the end of this season
Yaya Toure will leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of this season, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
Toure signed from Guardiola's Barcelona in 2010 and has been a key figure in City's trophy successes of the modern era, winning three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups.
The Ivorian fought his way back from exile at the start of last season to earn himself a regular place in Guardiola's side and a 12-month contract extension, but he has strruggled for game time during the current campaign.
lt seems, however, that he will start next Wednesday's game against Brighton, and that he will receive a heartfelt send-off from the Etihad Stadium crowd afterwards.
"He will not stay this season," Guardiola confirmed at his press conference. "The Brighton game we will give him what he deserves. All the game will l be focussed on winning the game and trying to do it for him."
Guardiola also paid a glowing tribute to the midfielder, hailing him as one of the key reasons behind City's current standing as one of Europe's top clubs.
"We have amainzg facilites but the club became what they did because of the players like him. Where we are is thanks to what he has done. We cannot forget that under Roberto [Mancini] and [Manuel] Pellegrini Yaya was the key, key, key, key, key, key player. That's why we are delighted to prepare for Sunday's game, for our celebration, and after for Yaya."