Pep Guardiola's Champions League curse 'lifted by shamans', claims Toure agent

Robin Bairner

• 8 May 2023 11:25 BST
• 3 min read

Ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola has had a curse on him lifted, according to the agent of former midfielder Yaya Toure.

Dimitri Seluk, the representative of the Ivory Coast international had a spectacular falling out with Guardiola in 2018 that was in part instigated by City failing to give Toure a cake on his birthday. Shortly afterwards, Toure departed the club.

At that time, Seluk predicted that Guardiola would never win another Champions League title and called upon African shamans to ‘curse’ the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.

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That hex, however, has been removed, the Monaco-based agent claims.

Speaking to The Mirror, he 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.

“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.

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“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.”

’Pep will win the Champions League with City’

Seluk is regretful of the whole matter, explaining: "I think Yaya 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.”

City have suffered continuous heartbreak in the Champions League, despite dominating the Premier League over the course of Guardiola’s stay at the club.

Last season, they were knocked out by Real Madrid in dramatic circumstances in the semi-final at the Bernabeu and are aiming to avoid a repeat this time around.