The mysterious tale surrounding Yaya Toure's alleged curse has once again captured the attention of football fans worldwide. Dimitri Seluk, the former agent of the Ivorian midfielder, has recently made claims confirming “lifting of the curse” previously believed to have been placed upon Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s coach.
Yet, Yaya Toure himself has come forward to vehemently deny ever placing a curse on his former coach or the club.
Yaya Toure’s Alleged Curse on Pep Guardiola
The debate about Yaya Toure’s curse on Pep Guardiola has been circulating online for years. Following Yaya Toure's statement accusing Pep Guardiola of harboring a dislike for African players, his former agent Dimitri Seluk added to the criticism at the time.
Seluk has echoed Toure's claims and insinuated that African witch doctors or “sangomas” will place curses on Guardiola, preventing him from winning the UEFA Champions League in the future.
The alleged curse remains a subject of debate, with some dismissing it as a mere conspiracy. Nonetheless, since Yaya Toure's departure from Manchester City, the club has faced disappointments in the UEFA Champions League, encountering unfortunate and embarrassing exits. This has contributed to the continued speculation surrounding the existence of the curse.
Dimitri Seluk: Guardiola Is Freed from “African Curse”
Sports outlets attributed a quote to Yaya Toure's former agent, Dimitri Seluk who confirmed that Toure’s curse on Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has been lifted and they can now win the Champions League.
The quote reads: "I think it is time for this bitterness to stop - and I know that Yaya feels the same because he wishes nothing but success for City. I can say that the spell has now been lifted by the shamans. I think Man City will win the Champions League under Pep."
Yaya Toure Slammed the Claim
In a tweet, the Ivorian former player debunked the claim himself, saying that this man, Dimitri Seluk, does not represent him in any way.
Additionally, Toure appealed to his fans to refrain from perpetuating negative stereotypes about Africans, emphasizing that such actions are harmful.
The tweet reads, "My former agent is being quoted by the media about a ‘curse’. Please don’t associate me with this nonsense and lazy stereotypes about African curses!? Media… move on please. This man does not represent me in any way. Amplifying these stereotypes is harmful."
Who Is Yaya Toure?
Yaya Toure, an Ivorian ex-footballer, is one of the world's top midfielders. He embarked on a football journey that included stints at Beveren, Metalurh Donetsk, Olympiacos, Monaco, and Barcelona.
In July 2010, Toure joined City for a reported fee of £24 million. His time at City included notable achievements, such as scoring crucial goals in the FA Cup semi-final and final in the 2010-2011 season, ending Manchester City's 35-year trophy drought.
Following the conclusion of the 2017-18 season, Toure bid farewell to Manchester City, making his final appearance against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Yaya Toure’s Deteriorating Relationship with Pep Guardiola
Toure's strained relationship with Guardiola during his final season at Manchester City sparked controversy.
The Ivorian midfielder had limited opportunities, making just one Premier League start in the 2017/18 campaign. In an interview with France Football, Toure accused Guardiola of intentionally undermining his last season and raised questions about the manager's treatment of African players.
Toure made a statement, saying, "The day he picks a team with five Africans in it, I promise I will send him a cake," alluding to the alleged incident in 2014 when his birthday allegedly went unrecognized by the club.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City in the UCL Semi-Finals
Real Madrid and Manchester City are set to play once again in a highly anticipated rematch of last year's remarkable Champions League semi-final.
On Tuesday, May 9, the initial match was held in Madrid, resulting in a 1-1 draw between the two teams. The second leg is set to take place in Manchester during the following week.
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