Guardiola preferred to lose the Manchester derby than play Yaya Toure, claims agent

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is refusing to play Yaya Toure in an effort to exact revenge on the player, according to agent Dimitri Seluk.

The midfielder’s representative thinks that the Catalan is annoyed with him after he criticised the coach for selling Toure while at Barcelona.

Guardiola is currently refusing to play the Ivorian until he receives an apology from Seluk for comments made about the coach this season.

However, Seluk claims that he has been unable to speak with any one at Man City.

‘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,’ Seluk told the Sunday Mirror.

‘I also tried to call Txiki – 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.

‘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.

‘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.

‘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.’

Seluk continued: ‘I know what his problem is. When Pep forced Yaya out of Barcelona I criticised him.

‘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. 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.’

Seluk even believes that Guardiola preferred to lose the derby with Manchester United than play Toure: ‘Pep is making history. Roberto Mancini never went so many games without a win, and neither did Manuel Pellegrini.

‘Pep knew that he needed Yaya in this period. Yaya would have been perfect to play against Manchester United. But instead of swallowing his pride and asking Yaya to play, he preferred to lose a derby game.

‘I don’t think City fans will be happy about that.’