Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has revealed that he was the subject of interest from Chelsea in 2005.

At the time Toure was playing his club football for Ukrainian side Metalurh Donetsk, but he eventually joined Olympiakos.

It was believed that his negative relationship with fellow Ivorian and then Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was a major contributing factor behind his failure to sign on at Stamford Bridge, but the 30-year-old has insisted that no problem exists between the pair.

"I have never had quarrels with Didier, contrary to what some claimed," The People quotes him as saying. "Didier has been my long-time friend.

"He did everything possible for me to join Chelsea in 2005 and we have been close since then. Would your enemy ever want you to work with him in the same place?"

Twelve months after he had joined Olympiakos, Toure moved to Monaco before undergoing a three-year stint with Barcelona.