MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini has said Yaya Toure will stay at Manchester City despite interest from Inter Milan.

Toure's future has been the subject of speculation, with his former City manager Roberto Mancini keen to take him to Inter and suggestions the Premier League champions will listen to offers for the midfielder in the summer.

However, although Toure has failed to replicate his form last season, when he scored 20 Premier League goals, Pellegrini said the 31-year-old plays a pivotal part in his plans and suggested there is an agenda against the Ivorian.

"Yaya is a very important player for our team," he said in a news conference. "Maybe all of you are waiting to criticise him or sacrifice him but Yaya will continue playing here because he is a very important player for me and the squad and for everyone."

City, who have lost six of their last eight games, face West Ham on Sunday with Pellegrini believing that they can recapture their confidence with one good result.

"I hope we will continue scoring goals, that we are not going to make easy mistakes to concede goals," he added. "I hope with one win the trust will recover again."