Yaya Toure will not play for Manchester City again until he apologises to the Premier League club for comments made by his agent, says manager Pep Guardiola.
The 33-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder’s agent Dimitri Seluk had said Toure felt “humiliated” by Guardiola after being left out of City’s Champions League squad.
“He must apologise. If he doesn’t, he won’t play,” Guardiola said on Tuesday.
“It was difficult to leave him out of the Champions League squad but (the) day after, his (agent) went to the media. (Toure) has not had the courage to call me. From that moment he was out.”
Toure, four-times African Footballer of the Year, has been a mainstay of City’s midfield since joining from Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2010.
He has only played once this season, in the second leg of a Champions League playoff tie against Steaua Bucharest when City had a 5-0 lead from the first game.
Guardiola and Toure also clashed at Barcelona, with the player saying in a 2011 interview that he felt forced out.
“He pretty much ignored me until City’s offer came in. That’s why I eventually opted to leave. I didn’t speak to Guardiola for a year,” Toure said at the time.
“I did not want to go and wanted to end my career at Barcelona. However, he had no faith in me.”
Guardiola subsequently disputed the player’s version of events and said he had tried to convince him to stay.
Toure, who has a year left on his City contract but had been tipped to leave after Guardiola joined from Bayern Munich in the close season, had announced earlier on Tuesday his retirement from international football.
Toure scored 19 goals in more than 100 appearances for Ivory Coast and captained his country to their first African Nations Cup win for 23 years in 2015.
City play Swansea City in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday.
Hulk
Guest
"Yo Yo Yaya likes the gunja too much." What? Are you ok?
TFPJOURNALIST
Roar Pro
I agree Vas, Yaya, if he was smart, should have left city in the transfer window while his value was still at a reasonable price. Two years ago his value would have been much higher, when he was in-form but after an disappointing season last season, his worth would have dropped. Now he can't get a start for City and a move to a successful club might be tricky for Toure. Fair call on Pep's behalf, why would you change your midfield if your team is first on the ladder? A midfielder can completely change your entire teams tactics.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Yaya is a No no for Pep's playing style. Guardiola likes hard-working, disciplined players who have lightning-fast counter attacking speed. That's how they conquered MUN. Yo Yo Yaya likes the gunja too much.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
No real surprise here. Without taking sides, I can't believe Yaya didn't leave City in the window - he's had about six months to ponder his next move since Guardiola announced he was Eastlands-bound. Seems pretty amateurish on Yaya's manager's part - saying something that leaves their client compromised at the club for another six months. Now Yaya has to apologise, and beyond that, try and force his way into a side that has begun so well. Couple that with the fact he has never had a penchant for tactical discipline, which Guardiola treasures in his players.