Manuel Pellegrini has joked that Manchester City will ensure Yaya Touré receives a birthday cake on Wednesday because it is “important to learn from the mistakes of the past”.
Last year the midfielder was unhappy because he felt the club did not do enough to mark the anniversary, which came after City had won the Premier League, and it caused a serious rupture in the relationship between Touré and the club.
With Touré to turn 32 on 13 May the manager smiled when asked whether the player would receive a cake. “We will think what is the best thing for him. It is important to learn from the mistakes that you have in the past,” he said.
Dimitry Seluk, Touré’s agent, stated this week it was “90% certain” Touré will leave City in the summer. Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale are interested in signing him.
Pellegrini said: “We will talk about next season in the right moment. Everyone in this moment can say what they want about different rumours. I have never answered to Yaya’s agent so I will not do it now. Yaya has a contract here for two years more so we are only thinking about the best way to finish the season then we will see what happens next season.
“I am not disappointed [in the agent’s timing]. Everyone can talk what he thinks is better for him but we are all focused in our team, the players and managers, and what the agents think is not my problem.”
Samir Nasri will miss the end of the campaign because of a groin injury. “The last two days we have the complete squad working except Samir Nasri who has a muscle injury and he will be out until the end of the season,” Pellegrini said.
