Former Manchester City chairman and player Francis Lee has admitted he is relieved to have seen his old club’s midfield linchpin Yaya Toure pledge to stay at the Etihad Stadium.
The Ivory Coast international looked to be on his way out of the Premier League champions earlier on in the summer when he and his agent made unflattering comments about the Blues.
Toure’s representative Dimitri Seluk hit out at City for failing to adequately acknowledge his client’s 31st birthday in May, despite footage emerging of team-mates presenting him with a cake during a post-season flight overseas.
The player refused to contradict Seluk’s quotes, sparking speculation that he would hand in a transfer request after the World Cup in Brazil.
His younger brother Ibrahim then tragically died of cancer during the tournament and Toure told France Football that his club would not grant him compassionate leave to spend time with his sibling before he passed away.
However, he has now drawn a line under the issue by telling Sky Sports News he wants to make fans happy by staying for the long haul.
Lee was elated by the turnaround but could not resist making light of the birthday rumours, and said on Twitter: “Good to see the Yaya saga over!
“Now can we please get a birthday cake on order for next year!?”