Toure considering international future

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has revealed that he is contemplating his future with Ivory Coast.

The 28-year-old was part of the side that lost in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last weekend on penalties to Zambia.

And with the tournament set to be played again next January, the player says he is unsure whether or not he would like to continue representing his country.

“We will see whether I carry on,” Toure told the Sunday Mirror.

“I have to think about what is best for me, for my club and for my country. I love playing for Ivory Coast so it is not an easy thing to think about.”

“Maybe if we had won against Zambia things would have been easier for me. The disappointment is big at the moment so I will wait until I have a clear mind before deciding what to do.”

“The African Nations is being played again next year and because we have lost the final it is an emotional time for us all.”

“But a decision about playing for Ivory Coast has to be made. I will take my time and think about things, about what I will do.”

Toure said the defeat in Gabon last week has made him more determined to lift the Premier League title with City in May.

“City are my club. I have a duty to them because I am a professional, but I also needed to play for my country,” he said.

“I did my duty, but I didn’t like being away from my City at such an important stage of the season.”

“I really wanted to play against United in the FA Cup but could not get permission to be there.”

“When I left we were in the two cups. When I came back we were out. I am happy that we are still first in the Premier League. That’s the most important thing, the aim is to stay there.”

Meanwhile, Toure has hit back at Wayne Rooney after the Manchester United striker taunted him and his brother Kolo on Twitter.

Rooney used the social networking site to poke fun at the two Ivory Coast internationals after they lost the Africa Cup of Nations final to Zambia.

“If Rooney thought Ivory Coast losing was funny then that’s up to him. I like Rooney. He is a great player,” Toure said.

“He will know a lot of the Ivory Coast players like me, Kolo, (Cheick) Tiote and (Didier) Drogba so he’ll have an opinion.”

“I think many people believed Ivory Coast would win. Even my friends said to me that they thought it was impossible that we would lose. All I can say is that losing in the African Nations has made my determination to win the Premier League even bigger.”

“Hopefully at the end of the season it will be me laughing and not Rooney. That would be good.”

City currently top the Premier League table with 60 points, two ahead of rivals United in second and seven in front of third-placed Tottenham.