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Yaya Toure
has apologized to Manchester City on behalf of his agent
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Pep Guardiola has
described an apology from Yaya Toure on behalf of his agent as "so
important for Manchester City".
Press
Association report continues:
City
boss Guardiola has refused to pick Toure since his representative Dimitri Seluk
claimed the midfielder had been "humiliated" by his omission from the
club's Champions League squad early in September.
Guardiola
demanded that Seluk apologize but, with that not forthcoming, Toure took
matters into his own hands on Friday in an attempt to end the impasse.
"I
wish to apologize - 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," the 33-year-old wrote on Facebook.
"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."
Guardiola
says he appreciates the apology and appears willing to offer the midfielder an
olive branch and possible way back into the team.
Speaking
at a press conference to preview this weekend's Premier League clash with
Middlesbrough, Guardiola said: "I spoke with Yaya today. Of course it is a
private conversation. I know what happened and what he says.
"Of
course it is so important for Manchester City, that is the most important
thing, and of course for Yaya, who I appreciate and have known from a long time
ago."
Guardiola
did not say whether he would start picking Toure again - having only selected
him once in five games prior to the stand-off - but implied he would be ready
if called upon. That is because Toure has continued to work with the squad
throughout his exile.
Guardiola
said: "Yaya is in all our meetings and training sessions. You knew the
situation, nothing has changed."
When
pressed further, Guardiola asked to change the subject.
"I
have answered about Yaya and don't answer more," he said.
"I
spoke with him and it is good. Now the focus is on Middlesbrough."
Whether
this proves to be the end of the matter, however, remains to be seen as Toure's
apology did not appear to have met with Seluk's approval.
The
Ukrainian told talkSPORT: "I'm not apologizing. We want peace, but I'm not
apologizing. Apologize for what?
"Maybe
Toure has apologized for this, but I don't know for what. I think Yaya doesn't
mean this."
Seluk
has a long history of courting controversy, with past remarks about a lack of
Toure-branded shirts in the club shop and City's failure to celebrate his
client's birthday properly among his most notorious complaints.
The latest row erupted when Toure was left out of Guardiola's 25-man squad for the group stages of the Champions Legaue, with City limited to 17 overseas players. Seluk claimed Toure had been humiliated. He did not back down when asked to apologize and fanned the flames further by accusing Guardiola of treating players "like dogs".
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