Yaya Toure hopes Manchester City keep hold of Mario Balotelli.

Toure denies reports he's clashed with his teammate and insists he wants the Italian to stay.

"The decision is down to the club," Toure told the Daily Mail. "But I want him to stay. He will have more experience in the future and get more things right. All the time I talk to Mario. We are close.

"I don't know what goes through his mind sometimes and I do get upset when he does something wrong. He has to understand he plays for Manchester City and he has to be professional.

"When I saw he had gone to a press conference recently at Inter Milan I was quite shocked. He shouldn't do that. He told me later he had friends there and wanted to see them. I understand that.

"When I go to Barcelona I go to meet people. I go to Eric Abidal's house because he needs me. But it's all private and it has to be that way.

"Mario is a fantastic player and person but his big fault is in his character and behaviour with people. We talk about that."