Yaya Toure’s agent Dimitri Seluk continued his war with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Toure’s Barcelona-based agent, Dimitri Seluk tacitly slammed Guardiola earlier over his player’s exemption in City’s 21-man squad for the Champions League.
Since his comment, the player hasn’t been considered for the club’s EPL games, despite being fully fit. Toure has made only one appearance this season as Seluk disclosed:
“When Toure left the club to come to City, Guardiola told him he was leaving to a s*** team. Now, Guardiola has come to this s*** team. Guardiola likes money more than football.”
But when asked if he would like to have Toure available, he replied:
“You know the situation from Yaya.”
Recall that Guardiola had demanded an apology from the agent of the midfielder, Dimitri Seluk, following disparaging comments made against the manager in the summer. Asked if he had received it yet, Guardiola noted:
“I would like to count [on] Yaya, believe me, I would like to, but you know the situation.”
And now Dimitri Seluk criticize Guardiola again:
“When Yaya was left out of the Champions League squad, I called Pep. I wanted to ask him his reasons, but he didn’t call me back. I also tried to call [City director] Txiki [Begiristain] – but he didn’t call me back either. So I don’t think the club can criticise me for doing an interview in the newspaper when they wouldn’t even talk to me.”
The agent states:
“Pep talks about respect. But to get respect you have to show it. Before City played at the Nou Camp, I called Pep again. I wanted to ask him if we could meet for talks while he was in Barcelona”
He added:
“I also called Txiki. But nothing came back. I sent them texts also, but again there was nothing back. I have the phone records to prove this. I was not making contact to apologise – but neither Pep or Txiki knew this. Why should I apologise when I am guilty of nothing but telling the truth? My idea was to talk man-to-man, to find out how we can move things forward for the best interests of Manchester City and Yaya.”
Dimitri Seluk continued:
“All I got was silence. So it must be clear to everyone that Pep isn’t looking for an apology. It is about him turning Sheikh Mansour and the City fans against a player who loves the club. Pep is allowing his ego to make decisions that aren’t in the best interests of Manchester City.”
He said:
“This is his revenge. And it is personal, not professional. I asked City in the summer if they wanted Yaya to leave and was told that he was part of the plan. It is now clear that wasn’t the truth. I think the plan was to humiliate Yaya – and all the other players who have made history for Manchester City in the last six years. Yaya isn’t the only one. [Joe] Hart and [Samir] Nasri have also paid because they are big personalities.”
Seluk noted:
“Pep doesn’t want to work with men. He wants to work with players who are very young because he can control them like children. Pep smiles at you. He makes you believe he is your best friend – and then he betrays you.”