Yaya Toure is reportedly ready to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, due to a poor working relationship with sporting director Txiki Begiristain.
Begiristain, who joined the defending English League champions near the start of the campaign, previously sold Toure to City, when he was responsible for sporting direction at Barcelona.
The Ivory Coast midfielder is reported today as having handed City an ultimatum that they sign him to a new contract by the weekend, or see him leave in the summer.
Currently one of the best paid players in the world, Toure is reportedly feeling a lack of confidence from club staff, with it intimated that this includes Begiristain again.
This was suggested at by his agent Dimitri Seluk, who is also quoted in The Sun today as confirming contract renewal talks with the club have gone on for six months.
“If he signs a contract in the next three or four days, OK. If not, we will not wait any longer and will start negotiations with different clubs,” Seluk affirmed.
“Today [yesterday] is Tuesday, so it means by Saturday. We will say ‘Thank you. OK, Yaya will leave in May’.
“I do not feel he will stay at City. This is not about money. He wants to leave because of many reasons.
“He is one of the best players at Manchester City but does not feel the respect of the staff. Only Roberto Mancini respects Yaya.
“It’s all strange. It’s not normal to have negotiations for six months about a contract. They have been talking about small details all this time.”
