08 May 2023 , 06:25
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Yaya Toure's controversial agent has lifted the curse he once asked to be placed on Pep Guardiola to stop him winning the Champions League.
Dimitri Seluk, the Monaco-based adviser who fell out spectacularly with Guardiola over his treatment of Toure, predicted in 2018 that the Manchester City boss would not add to the two European crowns he won with Barcelona after calling on African shamans to put a hex on the Catalan.
But now the Russian has performed an unexpected U-turn by asking for the jinx to be removed - just in time for City’s semi-final meeting with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Seluk said: “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.
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“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.
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Manchester City were beaten by Real Madrid in the 2022 semi-finals (AFP via Getty Images)“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.”
Toure, now aged 39 and working as an academy coach at Tottenham, should be remembered as one of City’s greatest players.
The Ivorian midfielder left the Etihad in the summer of 2018 after winning his third Premier League title medal. But his strained relationship with Guardiola was made worse by Seluk’s criticisms of the City boss.
Former Manchester City star Yaya Toure has now moved into coaching (Getty Images)And within a month of Toure’s departure from the club there were unfounded allegations that Guardiola didn’t like black players followed by a revelation by Seluk that a curse had been placed on the Blues by angry African shamans.
Toure later apologised for his comments which he claimed were a "mistake" while City have continued to suffer Champions League heartbreak despite being the most dominant club domestically.
They lost to Chelsea in the 2021 final and were knocked out by Real in the semi-finals last season despite leading 5-3 on aggregate going into the final minute of the second leg.
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City will face Real Madrid again after beating Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals (Marcel Engelbrecht/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Seluk said: “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.”