Kolo Toure has hit out at his treatment by Manchester City management.

Toure appears to have paved the way for a January exit from Manchester City after launching a stinging attack on the Barclays Premier League leaders.

In an interview in France, Toure claimed he is still paying for missing Premier League games while at the Africa Cup of Nations two years ago and rubbished 20-year-old City defender Stefan Savic.

The comments are remarkable after City stood by him during his six-month drugs ban.

Toure said: "I know my qualities and I have got nothing to prove here in England. They know me here. When you look at the performance of Savic against QPR, excuse me but I am relaxed.

"To compete in the Africa Cup of Nations is catastrophic for a player these days. Coaches no longer want to sign players because of it. I feel it's going to be more difficult for the Africans in football in the future.

"I'm convinced that, if I'm not playing for City, then it's not only for football reasons. If it was only about that then I would be playing every week. I'm a victim of that and it has to be said.

"When I was in Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010 the club hired a plane so that I could get back quickly to play in a game against Manchester United. I could not get back in time and we lost. I believe the club have not got past that and I'm paying for it now."