Yaya Toure's agent became embroiled in an extraordinary war of words with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Tuesday.
Guardiola has said the midfielder will not play for him again until his representative, Dimitri Seluk, apologises for recent remarks in the press.
But Seluk, who claimed Guardiola had humiliated Toure by leaving him out of City's Uefa Champions League squad, has said it is the Spaniard who should be saying sorry.
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Seluk listed a string of complaints against City’s manager, including the manner in which he succeeded Manuel Pellegrini in the summer and then replaced goalkeeper Joe Hart.
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 cannot stop me.
“I will apologise to Guardiola if he will apologise to Pellegrini for what he did to him. If you are a gentleman this just does not happen.
“He [Pellegrini] signed a new contract last year then he gets pushed out for Guardiola to come in. Pellegrini was a gentleman.
“Guardiola also needs to apologise to Joe Hart. It’s not right to come to England and then get rid of a few English players.”
Seluk has a long history of making contentious remarks backing his client. The most famous came in 2014 when he claimed City showed Toure a lack of respect on his 31st birthday, not even giving him a cake.
He spoke up again earlier this month when Guardiola made the decision not to include the player, who he previously coached at Barcelona, in his 25-man squad for the Champions League group stages.
This action was widely perceived as the latest indicator that Toure, who is now in the final year of his contract, does not feature in Guardiola’s plans.
The 33-year-old Ivorian has appeared just once in City’s eight games this season and did not even make the bench for the other seven.
It is now apparent this was more than just a tactical decision.
Speaking at a press conference to preview Wednesday’s EFL Cup tie at Swansea City, in which it was assumed Toure could feature, Guardiola said: “It was so difficult for me to put him out of the Champions League, so difficult. I know him, I know he’s a good, good guy, but the list is the list.
“But the day after, his manager [Seluk] spoke. In that moment Yaya is out. I accept if Mr Dimitri Seluk came in a press conference or [spoke to] his friends in the media – because he has not the courage to call me – and apologised to Manchester City, his teammates and the trainer. When that happens Yaya will be part of the group and he will have the same chance to play all the games.
“I cannot accept as a coach, every manager when his player doesn’t play, going to the media to speak and speak and speak.”
It does not seem Seluk is prepared to accept this and feels Guardiola has shown Toure a lack of respect.
In further comments broadcast on Sky Sports News, Seluk said: “When Yaya came to Manchester City, they could only dream about the Champions League. The biggest stars in Europe did not want to come to City but Yaya came. They weren’t a big club.
“After he arrived, they started winning: two league titles, cups and now the semis of the Champions League.
“I want Manchester City to win everything, to win all their games because it means more trophies for Yaya.
“Guardiola wants a new future for Yaya, for Hart, and they won’t be the last.
“I respect managers like [Claudio] Ranieri, who achieve without spending so much money on players.”
He added: “Well, what do I need to apologise for?”
Guardiola appears to be incredulous at the role of Seluk and will not tolerate any interference from outside.
The City manager said: “I cannot imagine in my period when I was a football player, my manager going to the media and speaking against Johan Cruyff, about this and about that.
“Maybe it’s a new era now, the new period changing, but I’m an old guy. I am old generation, and old generation managers have to make his players his job and trainers his job.
“Today the managers believe they are more than they are. If he has a problem call [director of football] Txiki Begiristain, the club, and they can talk. Until he doesn’t speak, Yaya is not going to play.”
The row overshadowed Toure’s decision, announced via social media, to retire from international football with Ivory Coast.
Guardiola also revealed captain Vincent Kompany, out since May with a thigh injury, could return at the Liberty Stadium.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
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Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
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Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')
Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')
South Africa's T20 squad
Duminy (c), Behardien, Dala, De Villiers, Hendricks, Jonker, Klaasen (wkt), Miller, Morris, Paterson, Phangiso, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Smuts.
