Soccer Transfer Rumors: Inter Milan Eyeing Yaya Toure, Says Robert Mancini
The January transfer window is about the close, but Inter Milan boss declared that he will not stop pursuing Yaya Toure as they are still planning to lure the Manchester City player in the summer.
Toure has been linked to a move out of Manchester City after admitting that his future at Etihad Stadium is uncertain, but his current club opted to keep him despite the talks surrounding the midfielder's desire to stay.
Mancini, who signed the Ivory international when he was still the manager of Manchester City, conceded that Toure is one of his top targets, saying that he is confident the 31-year-old will perform well in Italy with Inter Milan.
"Yaya is one of the strongest players in the world. He still is," Mancini said of Toure via ESPN FC. "He has played in so many teams. He has been in leagues in Belgium, Russia, Spain and England. Italy is the one missing. This could be the right opportunity for him to come and try."
However, Manchester City are expected to make the Champions League again next season, while Inter Milan's chances are slim at this point because they are currently in tenth place in the Italian Serie A table with just 26 points in 20 matches.
But despite the possibility of missing the Champions League next season, Mancini expressed confidence that they could convince Toure to move to Italy because they are determined to improve their roster in the hope of winning the Italian Serie A title next season.
"We are building a team. There are players that change the look of a team, and Yaya is one of them," Mancini said. "Next year we could try. We need to bring three champions, and we will see that we will be ready to fight for the Scudetto [Italian Serie A title].
Mancini struck a £24-million deal to bring Toure to Manchester City in 2010 -- a move that paid dividends for the club as the star midfielder starred in the 2011 FA Cup final, scoring the goal that ended the club's 35-year title drought.
During their time at Etihad Stadium, Toure and Mancini also won the Premier League title in 2012, which was Manchester City's first league title in 44 years.
Toure, who struggled to get into his rhythm earlier this season, has a contract with Manchester City that will run until 2017. Manchester City have yet to offer a new deal, but club manager Manuel Pellegrini said earlier this month that he believes Toure is still committed to the team.
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