Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure seems to be on his way out of Manchester City after his agent confirmed that talks are ongoing with Inter Milan and former boss Roberto Mancini.
Toure’s agent Dimitri Seluk in an exclusive interview with Italy’s Calciomercato.it confirmed that he is holding talks with Mancini – “Yes, it’s true. We are talking with Mancini. We are still trying to find a solution with Manchester City. I can’t say if there are other clubs interested, he has a contract. However, nothing special. Inter? It’s a good club.”
The point of contention is that Inter wants to offer an initial loan deal with an obligation/option to buy. This is the typical market strategy that Inter has been following for a year now and very successfully. City however are very reluctant on letting Toure go out on a loan as they want a permanent solution as they are only willing to part with Toure for cash.
New Directions
The midfielder ia rumoured to have been pushing for an exit to reunite with his former boss at Inter since last summer. However, the move never materialised because of a number of reasons. Inter went on to buy Kondogbia from Monaco for 40 million euros and Felipe Melo from Galatasaray, the latter serving as the alternate target for Toure last summer, to join Marcelo Brozovic in midfield.
However, Melo has failed to recreate his Fiorentina form. This season, however, with a Brozovic exit seeming likely, Inter will no doubt want the 33 year old midfielder to come to Italy.
The ‘Pep’ Factor
Toure’s exit looks imminent especially because of Pep Guardiola, who is all set to take the reins of the club from Manchester next season. Toure and Guardiola do not enjoy the most congenial relationship ever since their fall out during the pair’s Barcelona days. Toure was sold to City, where he went on to win several trophies and formed the backbone of the team.
Inter, like always, are doing excellent work in the transfer market having already secured the services of Sevilla’s Ever Banega on a free transfer. No doubt Toure will thrive under Mancini in a league where age is truly just a number.
