Yaya Toure says he has 'suffered for years' in football

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has hit out at the English media and his homeland Ivory Coast, stating that he has been treated unfairly and is unhappy despite his successes in the game.

Being a footballer is not something he would want for his two sons as he feels he has "suffered for years."

"(In the 2013-14 season), I scored 26 goals, 20 in the Premier League, and nobody mentioned it. You understand a bit my disgust," he told L'Equipe via the Guardian.

"Here, when it is bad, they stress it, when it's good, they leave that in the dungeon. They have always used their little methods to annoy me, to alienate me."

The following campaign Toure tallied half the number of strikes. It was a season where he came to terms with the death of his brother, Ibrahim, during the 2014 World Cup and a falling out with City over not receiving a birthday cake, among other things.

Related: Yaya Toure considering leaving Manchester City over birthday snub, claims his agent

He did during that term, however, achieve one of his career goals by leading the Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory in Guinea.

"That was my biggest desire, my most important project, it happened, finally, after losing two finals," Toure admitted.

"I lifted the trophy as the captain of Les Elephants. Exceptional, unforgettable. I did my job, won AFCON with my colleagues, and subtly, the most unloved individual in the Ivory Coast became the best-loved for a little while."

It has been an international career that, according to Toure, has been tainted by him being "denigrated" through false accusations, such as fighting within the camp.

Despite being linked with a move away from City over the past two summers, Toure says he has stayed put because he is an "honest person." He appreciates the success he has had in England since his move from Barcelona, but it has been ruined by external influences.

"When I arrived at City, in 2010, a heard a lot of people say, here, that I was going to kill football! The journalists were talking about my salary and saying that it was a disgrace," he continued.

"Did you see what happened next? We won nearly everything. In fact, it is recognition that I do not have that hurts me. It is a bit sickening.

"I do not want my two sons in football. I do not want them to have to go through everything that I have endured. It has hurt me. Everyone thinks I am happy: I have won titles, lots of money, but, no, I am not happy.

"I do not have a habit of doing impactful interviews, I say only what I think. I have suffered for years, and now I have decided to speak out. I am saying everything."

Toure is set to take his cheery disposition into Champions League action this Wednesday, when his club welcomes Sevilla to the Etihad Stadium.