Yaya Toure announces international retirement

By Chris MacRae

Wednesday 30 October 2019 14:18, UK

Manchester City's Yaya Toure has announced his retirement from international football after 113 games for the Ivory Coast.

Toure has been a regular member of his national side since making his debut in 2004 and featured for his country at three World Cups.

In 2014, he was named captain of the team after the retirement of Didier Drogba, winning his 100th international cap in a 0-0 draw with Cameroon in the same year.

He told social media: "Thank you to the Elephants! The writing of this note is without doubt one of the most difficult of my life.

"After 14 years at the highest level, I'm sure it's the right time for me.

"Football is everything to me. It has given me so many things in my career but now I don't feel able to set new goals as a player with the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire."

Toure has not featured for Manchester City this season since the arrival of Pep Guardiola and was left out of City's Champions League squad.

On the same day Toure announced his international retirement, the manager said he wants an apology from Toure over comments made by his agent - who criticised Toure's omission from the Champions league squad - before he will consider picking him again.

Toure arrived at City in 2010 and has made nearly 200 appearances for the club scoring 57 goals.

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