Pellegrini: No concerns over Toure

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini does not think Yaya Toure will have a problem returning to CSKA Moscow this season.

Pellegrini: No concerns over Toure

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini does not think Yaya Toure will have a problem returning to CSKA Moscow this season.

City’s inspirational midfielder was subjected to racist taunts by supporters when the clubs met in the Russian capital in the Champions League last year.

Toure was upset by the abuse and even suggested black players could boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia if the country did not get to grips with the issue.

CSKA were punished with a partial stadium closure by European governing body UEFA and sanctions were increased to full closure after a further offence in another match.

That punishment will have been served by the time City visit on October 21, but Pellegrini expects Toure to be prepared to play.

Pellegrini said: “He does not have a problem to go to Moscow. He said what he thinks about it and every one of us supports him because I don’t think those things can happen on a football pitch. This year Yaya doesn’t have a problem.”

Pellegrini certainly hopes the club – who initially said City and Toure’s complaints had been exaggerated – and supporters have learned lessons as a result of their punishments.

He said: “I hope for CSKA Moscow it is a lesson they will learn.”

In addition to CSKA, City will also take on another of last year’s opponents in Bayern Munich in their latest Champions League group. It is the third time in four seasons City have been drawn alongside the German giants.

All three of those sides are domestic champions while the fourth side in Group E are Serie A runners-up Roma.

City’s UEFA co-efficient means they do not get an easy ride but Pellegrini does not sense any injustice for a side that has won the Barclays Premier League in two of the past three seasons.

He said: “It is not a problem. It is the rules of the draw. Maybe there are different systems to do it but at the moment there is one system and we have nothing to do to change that.”

Pellegrini dismissed suggestions Alvaro Negredo could leave the club before the transfer window closes.

The Spain striker scored 23 goals last season – though none after January – and is reportedly interesting Real Madrid, having attracted the attention of their city rivals Atletico earlier in the summer.

Pellegrini said: “For the moment there is no news about that, for Negredo or anybody. We are not receiving any offers for any players.

“At this moment he is part of our squad and we are not trying to sell him and nobody has given an important offer.

“Last year he did very well and then had an injury with his shoulder and after that he didn’t play so well but he’s always an important player for us. We don’t want to sell him. We want him to stay with us.”

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