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Yaya Toure has urged billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour to keep spending big if Manchester City want to reach the same level as Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Ivory Coast midfield star Toure believes the only way City will make a Champions League impact is to keep adding big name players to Manuel Pellegrini's squad.

After splashing £49 million on Raheem Sterling, Toure is hoping City's Abu Dhabi-based owner sanctions more top signings this summer with Wolfsburg's £50 million-rated Kevin de Bruyne on the radar.

And as Toure prepared to face Madrid in Melbourne on Friday , the 32-year-old reckons the world's top stars will be tempted to The Etihad Stadium – but only if City are doing well.

“The target of the club is to reach the level of Real Madrid and Barcelona, and I know the manager and the chairman are working very hard” says Toure.

(Image: David Ramos)

“It’s wonderful because I think we have signed some great players in Sterling and Delph. We hope they will give us a massive boost.

“The market is not so easy, looking from afar at how many clubs are selling players. But the most important thing is for the club to try to improve. If you want important players you have to be winning and doing well.

“And if we are doing well, then it's a sure thing a couple of good players will come.

(Image: AFP/Getty)

“We are a young squad and we have a couple of young players coming through. What we have to do is keep working hard and believe the chairman can do something to bring quality players to the squad.

“If he does that will make it possible (to reach the level of Madrid and Barcelona) because this year is a massive challenge for us.

“After last season we need to bounce back for our fans and make them proud.”

(Image: Michael Regan)

Toure has dismissed continuing speculation that he's unsettled and favours a link-up with former Blues boss Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan.

And he claims he can play until he's 40.

“Mancini is one of the great coaches but my contract is with City. There was too much speculation about me leaving.

“I have my contract and I want to see the end of that contract, that's all. I have been at City for five years now I have always been criticised about what I am doing.

(Image: Alex Livesey)

“But the manager has a lot of trust and confidence in me and football for me is everything.

“I am emotional, I always try to flourish and always try to be at my best even when sometimes it is not easy.

“People say stupid things around me but I always try to focus even though sometimes you can be disturbed.

“I have always known for 32 years that I can play until I’m 40 because I know my quality and that’s all.”