Ivorian’s agent vents anger at Champions League snub
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has been left “humiliated” by Pep Guardiola’s decision to not include him in the club’s Champions League squad, according to his agent Dimitri Seluk.
The Citizens take on the likes of Barcelona, Borussia Monchengladbach and Celtic in the Champions League group stages, but the former Ivory Coast international will not play a part in City’s European campaign.
Toure has yet to feature in any of City’s Premier League squads this season, despite Guardiola and Toure having previously worked together at Barcelona.
It has been a rollercoaster couple of years for Toure at City, after the birthday fiasco in May 2014 – when the club reportedly failed to adequately wish the player a happy birthday – and subsequent serious reports of a move to Inter Milan.
However, Seluk insists the player will see out the rest of the season at the Etihad, with one year remaining on the 33-year-old’s contract.
“It is Pep’s decision and we must respect that.” said Seluk. “If he wins the Champions League for City this season then I will travel to England and I will say on television that Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world.
“But if City don’t win the Champions League then I hope that Pep has got the balls to say that he was wrong to humiliate a great player like Yaya.
“But what I can tell you is that Yaya will spend the season at City. He will not be leaving in January. He hopes that he will get the chance to prove himself.”
Despite being snubbed by Guardiola for City’s Champions League squad for the group stages, there is a chance the former Barcelona star could return to Europe this campaign, if City progress beyond the group stages, in which the Spaniard can reassess his squad.
Toure has been a key figure in City’s two recent Premier League title triumphs, although, it seems his career at Manchester City is likely to come to an end sooner rather than later.
