Yaya Toure has been left out of Manchester City’s squad for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off at Romania’s Steaua Bucharest.
The Ivory Coast midfielder did not even make the bench for the first match of new manager Pep Guardiola’s reign, against Sunderland on Saturday.
Now the 33-year-old has not been included in City’s travelling party for today’s clash in the Romanian capital, a decision by Guardiola which could increase speculation over the one-time team linchpin’s future.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference at the Arena National, Guardiola said: “He is a player of us and he is training amazing, but I was not sure if he was going to play, and so I prefer it if he stays there training good in Manchester.
“We travelled with two young guys and for the selection I prefer it to be the young guys than Yaya Toure.
“I prefer it if he stays there training and focuses on the next game. I have a lot of respect of him, for his career and quality, but for the first days – against Sunderland – we were looking for a more intensive game.
“That is why he didn’t play, the only reason why.”
Earlier, Toure’s agent said the midfielder plans to stay and fight for his place despite falling out of favour with the new City boss.
Dmitri Seluk said Toure was determined to force his way into Guardiola’s plans.
“Pep is the best manager in the world and I just hope he gives Yaya the chance to prove he is still good enough for City,” Seluk said.
“He has not been included against Sunderland or Steaua Bucharest but that’s okay. He is fit to play right now.
“Pep has to learn all about the players he has available. The performance against Sunderland was far from perfect,” added Seluk.
“This is a very good process for Yaya Toure.
“It will allow him (to prove) in training and in matches that he is still a wonderful player.
“But there is no talk of a transfer. Yaya will stay and fight.”
Toure, who played under Guardiola when the pair were at Barcelona, has won both Spanish Liga and the English Premier League twice, as well as the UEFA Champions League with the Catalan giants in 2009.
The play-offs round
Playing today (20.45)
Ajax (Netherlands) vs Rostov (Russia)
Copenhagen (Denmark) vs Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus)
Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) vs FC Salzburg (Austria)
S. Bucharest (Romania) vs Man. City (England)
Young Boys (Switzerland) vs B. M’gladbach (Germany)
Tomorrow
Celtic (Scotland) vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva (Israel)
Dundalk (Ireland) vs Legia Warsaw (Poland)
Ludogorets (Bulgaria) vs Viktoria Plzen (Czech Rep.)
Porto (Portugal) vs Roma (Italy)
Villarreal (Spain) vs Monaco (France)
Second legs: August 23 and 24. Group stage draw: August 25.