Despite a shaky start to the season, Yaya Touré continues to enjoy the full backing of Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini. The Chilean coach publicly defended the Ivorian midfielder following his red card in City’s 1-2 Champions League loss to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.
“He has my full support,” Pellegrini said during a press conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League fixture against QPR. “He made a mistake in the second half of the match against CSKA, but the whole group is responsible for the defeat. Yaya is a very important player. I will continue to field him because that’s what he needs.”
Touré, 31, has been underwhelming this season, with just one Premier League goal so far — a far cry from his dominant displays during City’s title-winning 2013–14 campaign. He is also still grieving the loss of his younger brother Ibrahim, who passed away from cancer earlier this year — a tragedy that has reportedly affected both his form and morale.
Still, Pellegrini emphasized that Touré remains central to City’s plans, adding, “I talk to him every day and I know he wants to continue playing.”
❓ Is This the End of the Exit Rumors?
With mounting speculation about Touré’s future — and reports that City might be open to parting ways next summer — Pellegrini’s strong support could help silence the exit talk, at least for now. The message is clear: Touré remains a trusted part of City’s core, and the club is not ready to give up on him.
