Yaya Toure believes that Manchester City will soon be able to match the likes of European champions Barcelona.

Although City are preparing for their first Champions League campaign after finishing third in the Premier League, Toure has claimed that they could soon be ready to test the likes of his former club.

"Last season I was asked to compare City to my former club Barcelona. I responded by saying that I thought City could be as good as Barca one day," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"When I said City could be as good, I truly believed it and I still do. We have a way to go to match those teams but it is our aim.

"With the ambition that the club has shown in the last few seasons and the way we are improving as a group, I think other clubs are now starting to take notice of the new Manchester City.

"We have shown we can match and beat the best in the Premier League and the next step is to do that in Europe too."

The 28-year-old joined City from Barcelona last summer in a deal thought to be around £24m.