Veteran midfielder Yaya Toure has been left out of Manchester City’s Champions League squad
Yaya Toure’s agent Dimitri Seluk has heavily criticised Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola for excluding the Ivorian from the Champions League squad this season.
It may have been a surprise to Seluk, but not the supporters who have seen very little of Toure so far, and many are instead questioning why the midfielder didn’t force a move away from the Etihad Stadium when game time was going to elude him this season?
Toure’s agent continues to risk severing ties with Man City
Agent Dimitri Seluk has been very outspoken on behalf of client Yaya Toure since he’s been representing him, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola certainly won’t appreciate the input. Seluk only risks severing ties with the club and further contributing to Toure’s omission in the squad if he continues to speak out about the goings on at the Etihad Stadium.
On Toure’s omission, Seluk said: “If (Guardiola) wins the Champions League for City I will travel to England and say on television that Pep is the best manager in the world. But if City don’t win the Champions League I hope that Pep says he was wrong to humiliate a great player like Yaya. Perhaps Pep will think he is good enough to play in the final 10 minutes of a League Cup game against a third division team – and, yes, I am joking.”
Toure’s influence in the dressing room a factor for omission
Yaya Toure is a long-serving player who is a leader in the dressing room. He has a big influence but is renowned for a questionable attitude at times, and Guardiola certainly won’t want the midfielder changing the atmosphere in the camp as a result. The 33-year-old is one of the highest earners at the club and was previously guaranteed a starting place for every possible game, but now it seems Toure has to fight for game time.
With a place previous assured under former manager Manuel Pellegrini, Toure’s performances suffered, and he became a hindrance not a help in the starting eleven. The Ivorian international has been with Manchester City for six years, making 266 appearances and scoring 75 goals, but his powers have been on the wane for some time, and with his deal with City up next summer, a departure is expected within the next year.
He may only be left out of the Champions League squad, but it seems Toure will be playing second fiddle in the Premier League too. Manchester City are 7/5 to win the Premier League this season, but will Yaya Toure play much of a part?
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