YAYA TOURE has slammed “stereotypes” about “African curses” suggesting that they can be “harmful”.
The former Manchester City star made the claim after his former agent Dimitry Seluk said that a curse that had been placed on manager Pep Guardiola had been lifted.
Toure wrote on Twitter: “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 can be harmful.”
The curse by “shamans” are said to have prevented City from winning the Champions League.
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Seluk fell out with manager Pep Guardiola over his treatment of the Ivorian midfielder and called on shamans to “curse” the Spaniard.
Many believe that the curse has prevented Guardiola, 52, from winning the Champions League and adding to the two he had previously won with Barcelona.
Seluk is said to have tried to nobble City in 2018 and the club are still waiting to win that elusive European crown, despite largely dominating English football.
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The closest City have come to breaking the curse was in 2021 when they reached the final, only to be beaten by Premier League rivals Chelsea.
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Seluk was initially angry on behalf of Toure after the club forgot to give him a cake on his birthday. His game time then started to decline before he left the club in 2018.
Less than a month after leaving the club there were unproven allegations that Guardiola did not like black players, which was followed by the revelation that Seluk had a curse placed on the club.
Toure, 39, apologised for his comments and labelled them a “mistake” later on.
Seluk is now hoping for City to win the Champions League as he revealed in an interview.
Seluk told The Mirror: “I want to apologise for this matter.
“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 – and that I think City will win the Champions League under Pep.
“They have a good chance of winning it this year. But whatever happens they will definitely win it in the next three years.
“Do you remember when I once criticised City for not giving Yaya a cake on his birthday?
“Well it is my birthday this month and my present is for this curse to be ended.
“In fact, it is my hope that City win the Treble this season.”
City are the favourites to win both the Premier League and the FA Cup while their path to Champions League glory is more difficult.
The Citizens are in the semi-finals of the competition but face Real Madrid, who knocked them out at the same stage last season.
The first leg of the tie is on Tuesday evening at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
Toure is currently working at Tottenham as an academy coach.
But during his time as a player at the Etihad, he was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and is arguably one of the club’s greatest-ever talents.
Seluk added: “As Yaya’s agent, it was my responsibility to fight for my client and try to defend him.
“I think he was the first great player City signed after Sheikh Mansour bought the club.
“But what I said about Pep being cursed has caused even more bad blood that wasn’t necessary.
“It has got to the point where people think I am football’s equivalent of Nostradamus.
“I can’t predict the future, but it is my opinion that Pep will win the Champions League with Manchester City.
“I am reaching out before the game against Madrid to tell everyone at the club and their fans that they have all of my support.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
