MANCHESTER CITY bid farewell to one of their modern greats in their last home game of the season.

Yaya Toure was making his first league start of the campaign, highlighting one of the reasons he’s leaving when his contract expires in just over a month’s time.

The Ivorian patrolled the midfield throughout the game, showing glimpses of his ability to drive through an opposition defence with apparent ease. It was a display which will assure some clubs interested in employing him next season that he still has quality.

Brother Kolo, who is currently on the coaching staff at Celtic, joined him on the pitch after the game to present him with a shirt commemorating his 316 appearances for Manchester City, the club where they once played together.

Kolo insisted that his brother is still able to play at the top level, while current captain Vincent Kompany went back in time to list Yaya’s “big moments” in a City shirt.

“I also just want to remind everyone about the big moments Yaya has produced for this club,” said Kompany during the post-match presentation.

“The 2011 FA Cup semi-final v United — Yaya. The 2011 FA Cup final v Stoke — Yaya. The crucial league game at Newcastle in 2012 — two goals for Yaya. The crucial league game at Crystal Palace in 2014 — Yaya. The League Cup final v Sunderland in 2014 — Yaya. The League Cup final v Liverpool in 2016 — a Yaya penalty.”

Toure’s own favourite moment was also more about the occasion rather than the aesthetics of the goal. He’s scored plenty of free-kicks and long-range piledrivers, but his goal in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United, which saw his side through to the final where they won their first major trophy in 35 years, was singled out by the man himself.

“The most important moment for me was the goal against United. After we won that trophy, everything started,” he said.

In the present day he is surplus to requirements at the club who have allowed his contract to run down. Although it is worth pointing out that the goal against Manchester United was a instance of him closing down Michael Carrick high up the pitch, before going on to score. Something which would have gone down well under Pep Guardiola.

Here, the newly crowned champions saw off Brighton thanks to goals from Danilo, Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho, with Leroy Sane laying on all three. A free-kick in a dangerous area was won just after Toure had left the pitch to a standing ovation, much to his disappointment as he sat on the bench.

Brighton manager Chris Hughton summed up this year’s champions in his post-match press conference.

“The biggest asset of their game is the pace and intensity, but that’s both ways,” he said. 

“Sometimes when you have gifted players, they might not be so good without the ball, but even with the players they have they still work hard without the ball.

“They’re still the best footballing side I’ve seen in the Premier League.”