YAYA’S TOURE OF DUTY
HE says Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane call him ‘Uncle’ because he is so much older than them but Yaya Toure is not ready for the rocking chair just yet.
In fact, the mighty midfielder is feeling so good after shedding the pounds on boss Pep Guardiola’s orders that he has confirmed he is ready to battle in the big time for the next FIVE years.
That would take Toure to 38 – but he believes he is fit and able enough to reach that milestone.
Whether he achieves that target in the familiar sky blue of Manchester City is another question.
Toure, who joined from Barcelona for £24million in the summer of 2010, is out of contract at the end of the season.
But right now ‘Uncle’ is loving getting down with the kids and chasing even more silverware.
He said: “In the past when you get to 33 you think you are done. Now, with the science, players can go on much longer.
“You see Zlatan Ibrahimovic or some of the other guys like Ryan Giggs. These guys are a big example and we all try to do the same. But it is hard. Of course, there are lads like Sane and Sterling who are younger and who look at you and say you are the Uncle.
“Sometimes when I pass to them, they say, ‘Ah, Uncle is on the phone’. And that’s good.
“I believe I have another five years. I will try and give it my best shot.”
But will he be at The Etihad next year, enjoying nights like the Champions League triumph over Monaco last week?
Toure added: “I don’t know. I don’t think about the contract. I just think about enjoying having my team-mates around. When you look at my career it is one year, two years, three years maximum at one club. I have been here a long time.
“But what the fans give to me, I want to give back.
“So I will do all I can, give everything until the last minute. And if I am done, when I am done, I am done. I’m an honest guy.
“It depends on the board because I don’t have anything to say. I don’t listen. The most important thing is to keep being in the team and just try to play positive – and win trophies for the fans.” STEVE MILLAR