[ 2016-11-04 ]

Yaya Toure Apologises To Pep
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has
apologised to the club for "misunderstandings from
the past".

City manager Pep Guardiola has said he will not
pick Ivorian Toure, 33, until his agent apologises
for criticising the decision to leave the player
out of his Champions League squad.

Touré has been frozen out by Pep Guardiola
after comments from his agent Dimitri Seluk
criticising the manager after the midfielder was
omitted from City’s Champions League squad. The
former Ivory Coast international, who played for
Guardiola at Barcelona before being sold to City
in 2010, has yet to feature for the club in the
Premier League this season, with his only
appearance coming in the Champions League
qualifier against Steaua Bucharest.

That led the outspoken Seluk to criticise
Guardiola, questioning whether he had “the balls
to say that he was wrong to humiliate a great
player like Yaya” should City not win the
Champions League. Guardiola then insisted Touré
would not play for him again unless Seluk
apologised for his comments and on Friday, the
four-time African Player of the Year moved to make
peace with a statement on his website.

“I wish to apologise – on behalf of myself and
those who represent me – to the management team
and all those working at the club for the
misunderstandings from the past,” read the
statement.

“Those statements do not represent my views on
the club or the people who work there. I have
nothing but respect for Manchester City and only
wish the best for the football club.

“I am immensely proud to have played a part in
the club’s history and want to help City succeed
further. I live to play football and entertain the
fans.

“On that note, I would like to thank all of the
fans for their messages through this difficult
period. This means a great deal to me and my
family.”

Touré, who has been told he is free to join any
Premier League club in January, has been training
with Guardiola’s first team squad despite not
being in contention to play. It remains to be seen
whether he features for City again, although
comments from Seluk on Thursday evening hinted he
could still have a future at the club.

“I have spoken to Yaya in the last few days and
he has asked me to make the peace with
Pep,” Seluk told the Mirror.

“I agreed with him that I had to do what I could
to make the situation better, because Yaya and
Manchester City have been caught in the crossfire.
I am genuine in what I say.

“Some City fans have contacted Yaya to say that
a way forward must be found. And some of Yaya’s
team-mates at City have also contacted me to say
the same thing.”

“I am not an unreasonable man,” Seluk added.
“I don’t think that Pep will ever love me, but
the most important thing is that we try to forgive
what has happened in the past and develop a new
relationship.

“This is a genuine gesture. I hope Pep accepts
that my hope is that we can start with a clean
page.

“Of course, I hope Pep takes the decision to
bring Yaya back into his squad. But even if he
doesn’t, I can assure him that I am not going to
speak about him any more in the media. I felt it
was important that it was me who make the first
step towards peace, respect and friendship.

“I really do hope this can be a new start and
that Yaya can help Manchester City to win more
trophies.”
 

 
 

Source - Wires

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