Arsenal favourite accuses Pep of ‘killing’ Toure’s career

Yaya Toure is right to leave Manchester City – because Pep Guardiola “was killing his career as a footballer”.

Toure will leave City as a free agent this summer after eight successful years in the Premier League.

The midfielder played a crucial role in the club’s title victories in 2012 and 2014, but his influence has diminished over the years.

Under Guardiola in particular, Toure featured less often, which the 35-year-old believes is due to the manager’s “problems with Africans”.

Former Arsenal right-back Emmanuel Eboue believes Toure is justified in looking to leave the Etihad Stadium for more playing opportunities.

“As a player, there is a time you completely cannot work with a coach and because of your future, you must go,” Eboue told KweséESPN.

“It was evident Pep Guardiola did not like my brother Yaya right from the Barcelona days. It is the best decision for Yaya to get away from Guardiola’s territory because he was killing his career as a footballer.

“I think Yaya’s last one year has been hell because he was not playing enough. For a professional footballer that is very terrible.

“Sometimes it’s not all about the money, but when your relationship as a player is not good with the manager and it does not seem like it will improve, it is always better to move elsewhere.

“Yaya is a great player and leader and I think he still has some years to continue playing at the highest level. He is the kind of player who can turn things round and he always wants to win.”

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