Yaya vows to make City huge

Manchester City's Yaya Toure. Photo: Reuters

Yaya Toure has vowed to capitalise on his Manchester City reprieve and help the club make more history.

The midfielder, synonymous with City's recent successes, looked to be heading for the Etihad Stadium exit after being frozen out by manager Pep Guardiola.

Relations looked unlikely to thaw after the Spaniard said Toure would remain jettisoned until outspoken agent Dimitri Seluk apologised for controversial comments about him - a stand-off that lasted until November.

The 33-year-old issued an apology that brought with it a surprising first-team return, with the midfielder featuring in every league match since netting a match-winning brace on his comeback at Crystal Palace.

"To be honest, I belong on the field you know," Toure said.

"Even if I'm not playing I want to be at the stadium to watch. Out of the stadium is going to be difficult."

The midfielder was asked about extending his deal beyond the end of the season - a situation few could have imagined just months ago.

"Before when I talked, in New Jersey, when I signed for City, I came to this club to make history," Toure said.

"I want this club to change, I want this club to be bigger than United. I know it's going to be a lot of work, but that's my dream.

"I have been lucky to play at big clubs, Barcelona, Olympiacos, those teams were always used to being champions. But City, it was something different, something changing and I am happy now.

"Every single year we are always involved in the title race. Even though we lost, and something changed or something was bad, the following year the owner put more money into the club and got better players to make it better."