The Manchester City Thread

Manchester City is delighted to announce that Yaya Toure has signed a new four-year contact.

The deal to keep the reigning African Player of the Year at the Etihad Stadium until 2017 was signed this afternoon.

Toure, who celebrates his 30th birthday in May, has been an integral and inspirational part of the Blues journey to FA Cup winners and Premier League champions.

He is excited by the prospect of extending his career at the club he calls home and for which he has already started more games than any other since making his senior debut for Beveren in 2001.

“This is where I want to be,” declared Yaya. “When I first arrived at City every time I went to sleep I would dream about us winning something; now it is about us being the best team in whatever competition we take part in.

“I will never forget how I have been treated here by the fans, the club and the owners and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to finish my career as a Manchester City player.

“I want to continue winning titles and trophies and continue to make history. I have enjoyed all of my time here and can’t wait for the next chapter. This is an incredible club to be part of with fans that support a team to the end whatever the circumstances.”

Having finalised the details of his new agreement, Yaya, whose glittering and lengthy CV includes a Champions League, two La Liga titles, a Barclays Premier League, an FA Cup and a Copa Del Rey (Spanish Cup), is determined to end the season with more silverware and then fire the Blues to new glories next season.

“Of course now it looks likely that we will not successfully defend the Premier League title and that is sad for all of us but we can still finish second and win the FA Cup for a second time in three years and that is still an achievement for a club that won nothing for a long time,” he declared.

“We must try to finish on a high note and then start preparing to win more next season! Football is always a challenge and always a puzzle to solve and that is why we all love the game.

“You have to use your skill, intelligence and strength to constantly improve and that is what we at City intend to do.”

Teckle.

The current champions are planning another show of strength in the transfer market, with their chief executive, Ferran Soriano, privately acknowledging that the club made serious errors of judgment last summer when Brian Marwood was in charge of recruitment.

Soriano, who was not at the club at the time, believes Mancini has genuine grievances after they lost out on Robin van Persie to United, as well as other targets including Eden Hazard and Oscar, and ended up with Javi García, Maicon, Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair.

The former Barcelona executive expects to sign three or four established players and has spoken behind the scenes about the importance of each of them being an upgrade on players currently in those positions. He has also confirmed there will be a considerable exodus of Mancini's fringe players.

Stealing Fergie's limelight there.

Didn't we only sign him because he was unreal against us in the 1st leg of a Europa League game?

Got free tickets for the Cup Final on Saturday. Flights expensive as fuck though /o\

Got free tickets for the Cup Final on Saturday. Flights expensive as fuck though /o\

How've you managed to get hold of them? Go though for sure.

I'll have 'em, if you can't use them.

Yeah, I'm not worried about that, he's been more reliable than Hart this season.

Nasri's done an interesting interview with the Times. I don't dislike him quite as much having read it. I'll post it up if there's interest, it's fucking long though.

Always? This is only his second season