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Yaya Toure taking notes from Zlatan Ibrahimovic on retirement date

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) has the option to extend his contract at Manchester United beyond the end of the season
Image: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) has the option to extend his contract at Manchester United beyond the end of the season

Yaya Toure is looking to the prolonged careers of Manchester United players when considering his Manchester City future.

The 33-year-old has regained a key role in Pep Guardiola's midfield, having not played in the Premier League this season until November following a dispute involving the City manager and Toure's agent, Dimitri Seluk.

Toure has scored six goals in 17 appearances in all competitions and he sees no reason why he cannot follow the examples set by ageing players at City's rivals when it comes to continuing to play at the top level.

"In the past when you got to 33, you were done. Now with the science, players can go on much longer. You see guys like [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and [Ryan] Giggs, they are a big example," Toure said.

Manchester City's Yaya Toure celebrates
Image: Toure (left) has been nicknamed 'uncle' by Manchester City's younger players

"Competition between the players at the club is very important. I had that at Barcelona before. We won six trophies there. With a lot of competition for places we can achieve something important."

Giggs called an end to his playing days at the age of 40, moving into a coaching role at Old Trafford, while United manager Jose Mourinnho has already expressed his confidence that Ibrahimovic, 35, will extend his contract beyond the end of the season.

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Toure is set to continue playing beyond the summer too, but he is less certain about whether it will be at Manchester City, where he has earned the nickname 'uncle' from some of the club's younger players.

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"I don't know about next season," Toure said. "I don't think about it. I am just about enjoying having my team-mates around.

"You have guys like Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling who sometimes pass me and say 'Ah, uncle is on the phone'.

"When you see my career, it is one year, two years, three years maximum at one club. It is a long time.

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"What the fans give to me, I want to give it back so I will do all I can until the last minute and if I am done, when I am done, I am done.

"It depends on the board because I don't have nothing to say. I just try to play positive and win trophies for the fans."

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