Pellegrini dismisses Toure exit rumours

LONDON - Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini dismissed media reports on Friday claiming that influential midfielder Yaya Toure could be sold to another club.

Toure, 31, top-scored for City with 20 goals as they won the Premier League last season, but the Ivory Coast international's form has dipped since the start of the current campaign.

He hit a low on Wednesday when he was sent off for a petulant shove against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, but despite his recent struggles, Pellegrini says the club are not looking to sell him.

"There must be a lot of reports telling (the story) that Yaya will be sold. Maybe (it is) all the other teams that want Manchester City to be a weaker team," the Chilean told a press conference.

"Yaya is a very important player. He played very well in the first half (against CSKA). He scored a goal.

"In the second half, he made a mistake and he was sent off, but I am sure nobody at the club is talking about selling Yaya Toure."

Toure joined City from Barcelona in 2010. He was won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup in his four years at the club.