Has Yaya Toure ruined his legacy at Manchester City with his outburst?

Yaya Toure is now free to talk to clubs after Manchester City confirmed he would not be renewing his contract. He had a farewell in the final home game against Brighton, with the player going on an outburst once the club had broken up for their summer holiday.

That rant was directed at manager Pep Guardiola.

The manager was asked following the outburst and initially refused to comment, however he has now had his say. “It’s a lie and he knows it,” the Spaniard told journalists when speaking with TV3. “We were together for two years and now this is when he says it. He never told me face to face.”

It seemed to all start in 2010 when Guardiola deemed Yaya Toure surplus to requirements at Barcelona and was sold to Manchester City for £24million.

The fallout has been bubbling ever since Guardiola joined the English Premier League in 2016. The Ivorian was omitted from the Champions League squad for that season and Dmitry Seluk, Toure’s agent, attacked the manager for humiliating the player.

He was not going to return to the team until he received an apology from the player and his agent. He duly did and everything seemed fine for the next two seasons.

Although not playing regularly, team spirit was perceived to be as excellent at City, who went on to win Premier League this season and broke multiple records in the process. Toure remained a crowd favourite and was viewed as integral to the good atmosphere and professionalism within the squad.

City and Pep expressed their gratitude and thanked the midfielder in their final home game against Brighton, with Toure being substituted with four minutes left to play. He received a standing ovation from Cityzens and was going to depart Manchester with his legacy intact.

That was until he was put in front of the media organisation. More than likely all part of the plan by Dimitri Seluk to air his views and his apparent hatred of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich ‘gaffer’.

After reading his interview with France Football, every answer appears to be an attack against Guardiola’s management, character and values. Even if the question didn’t centre around his former manager, the Ivorian made a point to make it about him and not in a positive light.

Toure claims are unsubstantiated, particularly the racism view, after some of Guardiola’s most trusted players during his Catalan dominance were Eric Abidal and Seydou Keita, both having African roots. Jerome Boateng and David Alaba at Bayern also disprove that theory, while City’s winning squad has a host of black players.

The claims by Toure and his agent are without evidence and have yet to be backed up by any player. The remarks feel cheap and an attempt to attack a man who was never keen on him.

Many fans on social media have attacked Toure as a result of the claims and dismissed any potential legacy that the Ivorian had bestowed upon him. I, as a City fan, agree, as the comments are unjust and discriminate against Pep’s character and morals.

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However, Toure makes no reference or negative comments about the club, players or other staff. It could be considered an outburst at the club though as Pep has made himself such a central figure at Manchester City.

The efforts he put into the club and was the first major signing under the Etihad dynasty, allowing the club to grow into the position we are today. His part should certainly not be forgotten at any cost.

So, should any legacy be judged purely on his dislike for Guardiola or does discriminating the Manchester City manager, make it an attack against the club?