With Manchester City’s season in danger of falling off a cliff in spectacular fashion, the role of Yaya Toure in Manuel Pellegrini’s team was under the microscope. No longer the beating heart of his side, the Chilean was well within his rights to begin to think of a team without the Ivorian as the midfield lynchpin.

That was until City travelled to high flying Swansea in a game that they needed to win to condemn Arsenal to third place. The 32 year old once again stood head and shoulders above his team mates in blue, it was the Toure of old; he was at his ferocious, rampaging best as he plundered two goals to ensure Pellegrini would lead his side to second place.

Before that it seemed inevitable that Toure was destined to move to Inter Milan, his agent had done little to quash the rumours of the midfielder being reunited with his former boss Roberto Mancini.

This season has been Toure’s poorest in a City shirt by a long way, it seemed that his heart was no longer set in Manchester, rather than the fearsome midfield general, he had become a passenger in a team that seemed devoid of heart, passion and creativity. But just as the player and team reached its nadir, Toure hit back.

Whether it is the realisation that his astronomical wages may not be matched at another club or whether it something a whole lot less cynical; a light bulb seems to have switched on in the former Barcelona man’s head.

It may be a sign of just how important and influential that Toure has become that a season where he hits 10 goals from midfield is one that is derided so freely. But it was more his lackadaisical approach that irked a fan base that has idolised him for so long.

Inter Milan have seemingly placed all their eggs in one Ivorian basket and it may yet backfire, if the rent-a-quote agent  Seluk is to be believed, not only is he prepared to stay in Manchester he could still yet be persuaded to lengthen his Manchester contract.

Yaya Toure being pushed out of Manchester City, no longer wanted and no longer caring, seemed a sad way to end the career of one of City’s most successful servants. Thankfully, for both fans and player this may not be the end of the Toure tale.

It has now gone from a situation where it was inevitable that Toure would move to pastures new; to one that now seems likely he will feature for Manchester City again next term. If they are to regain their Premier League crown it is essential that they have Yaya Toure, not the Toure of last season, but the Toure of season’s past, the Toure that was seen at The Liberty Satdium.

He has a chance to ensure that his City story has the happy ending it so richly deserves; it is a turnaround, a change of heart that few predicted.

It can only be good for both City fans and neutrals, a team and a league with a flourishing Yaya Toure is certainly a stronger one than without him.

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