Pellegrini: Toure's outspoken agent not causing problems
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini insists the recurring outspoken comments of Yaya Toure’s agent are not a problem that will affect the club.
Dimitri Seluk, Toure’s controversial Ukrainian representative, has returned to the fore with two forthright interviews in the past week that have cast doubt over his client’s future.
Among his remarks he has referred to Pellegrini as “a good coach, but a weak manager”, criticised other executives at the club and claimed he has received offers for midfielder Toure.
Amid that Toure has also given an interview in which he has said he is open to “new challenges”, remarks which have been interpreted as suggesting he is considering a move.
The situation – and the sense that 31-year-old Toure could be unsettled – is not unfamiliar.
Two years ago Seluk claimed Toure would quit City if a new contract was not delivered by a certain date – a deadline which actually passed before any deal was signed – and last summer his claims about the player’s dissatisfaction sparked the notorious birthday cake row.
A fresh Toure saga is not something City would welcome but Pellegrini believes it can be dealt with.
He said: “In a club, especially a big club, you have a problem every day. You always have problems, you have to manage them in the best way you can.
“It’s impossible to tell every agent of the 22 players what they must say and not say. It’s important that everyone can say what they want and it’s important to know here inside the club what we want.”
Toure, reputedly City’s highest earner on £220,000 per week, has remained at the Etihad Stadium despite all the past issues and Pellegrini does not see why that should change.
He said: “Maybe the ’new challenge’ is at City also.
“There are lot of different places you can have it but City also is a challenge and I am sure Yaya is very happy here.”
Pellegrini has also confirmed the full squad will be expected to travel on the club’s post-season tour of North America.
City are to play a friendly against Toronto on May 27 – three days after their final Premier League game – and another fixture in the United States could be arranged.
The likes of Argentinians Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta, and Brazil’s Fernandinho could be involved at the Copa America in Chile, which starts on June 11, just 15 days later.
Argentina play their first match on June 13 and Brazil on June 14, and countries would have the right to call up the players two weeks beforehand.
Those involved therefore face the prospect of a busy summer.
Pellegrini said: “The complete squad will travel. They have to rest but it will be after they finish the post-season tour.”
