Manchester City legend Yaya Touré has renewed his attack on Pep Guardiola, citing their ongoing feud dating back to their time together at Barcelona, and calling the Catalan club’s iconic coach a “snake.”
Touré was forced to leave Barcelona in 2010, and the same thing happened in 2016 when Guardiola took over at Manchester City, as he decided not to rely on him for most of his first season at the Etihad Stadium.
This conflict has become one of the most famous player-manager clashes of the modern era, encompassing tactical disagreements, personal clashes, and public accusations. Touré’s latest comments underscore the depth of his feeling of being undervalued by Guardiola.
Touré spoke again about what happened, saying, “Guardiola? I don’t see a man, I see a snake.”
He added, “The Barcelona coach called me at the time and said, ‘You have to come back, it’s important.’ My wife said to me, ‘Are you going to listen to this nonsense? He treated you like dirt, and now he wants you to stay? Let’s go to Manchester, brother.'”
He continued, “The man didn’t play me all season, and then I shone at the 2010 World Cup, and then he sends me back to Barcelona. My wife was always warning me about him. She used to say, ‘He’s not a man, he’s evil.’ She saw him as a negative person.”
It is unlikely that Guardiola will respond publicly, consistent with his approach throughout the dispute, but Touré’s comments will undoubtedly reignite the debate surrounding their strained relationship.
