Yaya Toure might have played his last game for Manchester City if according to Pep Guardiola, his agent, Dimitri Seluk, fails to apologise for his numerous scathing attacks aimed at him.
Seluk, a Barcelona-based Russian who has looked after Toure’s career since he was a teenager, is known for his stern criticism of the former Bayern Munich boss.
However, this isn’t the first time Toure’s controversial adviser has upset Guardiola or City with his remarks surrounding his highest-profile client.
Here’s a look back at some of Seluk’s statements, dating back to before Toure was sold by then Barcelona boss, Guardiola, to City in 2010.
- Toure wants big clubs not City – November 2009
“He would not go to Manchester City because he is only considering really big teams and of course those that are in the Champions League. We ruled out City anyway because they tried to negotiate with us in a bad way using his brother [Kolo].”
- Time to move away from City – May 2012
“Toure has done all he can do at City and needs new motivations,” Seluk told Spanish radio. “He would like a new challenge. He would not cost much. He could sign for many big clubs, like Chelsea or Bayern Munich. We would like to see Barcelona join the race.”
- Tired of waiting – March 2013
“If he signs a contract in the next three or four days, okay. If not, we will not wait any longer and will start negotiations with different clubs,” he told The Sun newspaper. “Today is Tuesday, so it means by Saturday. We will say ‘Thank you. Okay, Yaya will leave in May’.”
- No birthday presents? – May 2014
“Yaya is so upset he’s thinking of leaving City,” Seluk said. “There are a number of things that have happened that have left Yaya feeling bitterly upset. City have treated him with disrespect and have really hurt him.”
- Toure is leaving – May 2015
“It’s 90 percent certain he’ll leave Manchester City this summer,” he told Sky Sports. “Nothing has been decided – we are waiting until the end of the season.”
- Nothing special about Pep – January 2016
“Pep is a great coach. But he has won the title at Barcelona and Bayern Munich,” he told the Daily Mirror. “The truth is that my grandfather would win the title with Barcelona and Bayern Munich because they are big clubs with great players.”
- Guardiola coming? Toure is leaving – January 2016
“I think Yaya will leave the club. But before leaving, I hope he will again win the league and all the cups,” he told The Sun. “It’s not a question of whether Pep likes him or not. It’s life, you know.”
- Desperate to leave City – April 2016
“I will not let Yaya waste a year at City,” Seluk told the Sunday Mirror.”I will not let City keep him because, in one more year, his chances of joining another big club will be smaller. I will go to FIFA. I will write to them and tell them that we will buy Yaya out of his contract. We can do this. It is an option. This is not a threat. I promise you that Yaya will leave City this summer one way or another if they don’t offer him a new contract.”
- Toure’s Champions League snub – September 2016
“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,” Seluk told the Sunday Mirror. “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.”
- Apologise to Pep? Never!!! – September 2016
“What do I need to apologise for?” Seluk told Sky Sports News. “Guardiola wins a few games and he thinks he is king. I live in Europe so I can say whatever I like and Guardiola can’t stop me.”
