Yaya Toure has claimed that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has a problem with players from Africa.
Toure will officially be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of this month but his final season at City was a frustrating one as he was restricted to just ten Premier League appearances.
The 35-year-old, who has been capped 101 times by Ivory Coast, was sold by Guardiola when he was at Barcelona and has now hit out at the coach in the wake of City’s record-breaking title win.
Yaya Toure claims Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has a problem with players from Africa
Toure told France Football: ‘I want to be the one who breaks the Guardiola myth.
‘I tried to understand it and I even asked coaches for my stats. When I realised that they were as good or better, both in training and in matches, as those who played and were younger than me, I understood that it was not question of physicality.
‘I don’t know why but I have the impression that he was jealous, he took me for a rival.’
Toure added that he felt Guardiola did everything possible in order to ‘spoil’ his final season at City and questioned whether he would have done the same with other players such as Barcelona great Andres Iniesta.
Furthermore, Toure stated that Guardiola was ‘cruel’ to him.
Toure accused Guardiola of doing everything to spoil his last season at Manchester City
Toure said: ‘I have the impression that Pep, without acknowledgement or respect, did everything to spoil my last season.
‘He was cruel with me. Do you really think he could’ve been like that with Andres Iniesta? It got to the point I asked myself if it was because of my colour. I’m not the first, other Barca players asked the question too.
‘Maybe us Africans aren’t always treated the same by certain people. When you see the problems (Pep) has often had with African players, everywhere he has been, I ask myself questions.’
The midfielder, who won three Premier League titles during his stint at the Etihad, added: ‘He’s too intelligent to be caught. He’ll never admit (not liking African players). But the day he picks a team with five Africans in it, I promise I will send him a cake!
Toure worked under Guardiola during playing spells at both Barcelona and Manchester City
‘Beyond that, Pep likes to dominate and wants to have obedient players who kiss his hands. I don’t like that kind of relationship. I respect my coach but I’m not his thing.
‘He stole my farewell with City, a club with beautiful fans. I would have liked to leave with emotion of this club the way Iniesta (left Barca) or Gianluigi Buffon (left Juventus). But Pep prevented me.’
Manchester City have been contacted for comment.