Toure: City can be as good as Barca

Yaya Toure believes Manchester City will prove they are worthy of a place in the European elite this season.

Toure joined City from Champions League winners Barcelona last summer and, after a promising first season that saw Roberto Mancini’s side finish fourth in the Barclays Premier League, the midfielder now expects to see the Eastlands club operating at a similar level to the Spanish giants.

“Last season I was asked to compare City to my former club Barcelona. I responded by saying that I thought City could be as good as Barca one day,” he told the Daily Star Sunday.

“When I said City could be as good, I truly believed it and I still do. We have a way to go to match those teams but it is our aim.

“With the ambition that the club has shown in the last few seasons and the way we are improving as a group, I think other clubs are now starting to take notice of the new Manchester City.

“We have shown we can match and beat the best in the Premier League and the next step is to do that in Europe too.”