Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure has lashed out at the English press for what he describes as a their ‘annoying and distracting’ reporting on him.

The Cote D’Ivoire international has not had the best of relationships with the media in the UK during his time with the Citizens in the English Premier League, despite the influence he has had in their title-winning seasons.

Since joining the club from Barcelona five years ago, the powerful midfielder has been an important contributor to successful seasons that have produced two league titles and a FA Cup.

He also threatened to leave after describing a feeling of being ‘victimised’ by his club when officials reportedly did not treat him with ‘respect’ on his birthday.

At the end of last season a move to Inter Milan seemed likely when the player said he was not happy and his agent revealed that a move away from the club was 90 per cent certain, but in the end the player signed a new contract and remained in Manchester.

The four-time African player of the year revealed that he is disgusted with the English press in an interview with L’Equipe.

“In recent weeks, journalists have spoken about a new beginning for me. But what new beginning? I’m coming off a season when Man City finished second in the Premier League, which is the most difficult in the world. I scored twelve goals. I also had to leave the club to join my national team who were playing the African Cup,” Toure explained.

“I missed almost two months (of Premier League football), and I then I was criticised for not scoring as many goals as in the season before. You understand a little my disgust. Here, when it’s bad, they (British journalists) highlight the faults. When it’s good, they say nothing,” he said with disgust.

The 32-year-old captain of the national team went on to comment on the media’s treatment of him in England.

“They have always used their little ways to annoy and distract me. I often feel that I’m unhappy. A lot. When I came to City, in 2010, I heard people here say that I would kill football. I arrived from Barcelona as a player who had not played much in the few months before the transfer, and they did not understand. The journalists spoke of my salary, saying that it was a shame. But I was just at this club to help it grow and win titles,” he added.

“Many people, beasts, I must say, have laughed at me when I said that. They wondered what I, Yaya Toure, could do to change City. And then you saw what happened next? We almost won everything. I did it, we did it because I was not alone, of course, but no one said a thing. It’s a bit disgusting,” he revealed.

“These people are not very smart. I do not have the habit of making shock interviews, I only say what I think. I’ve suffered for years, and now I have decided to talk. I mean everything,” the midfielder added.