Yaya Toure has sensationally reignited his long-standing feud with Pep Guardiola, launching an astonishing verbal attack on his former manager that includes calling him a “snake” and revealing his wife’s scathing assessment of the Manchester City boss. The Ivorian legend’s explosive comments, made during an interview on the ZACK YouTube channel, have reopened one of football’s most notorious manager-player conflicts that has simmered for over 15 years.
The 42-year-old former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder did not hold back when describing Guardiola, stating unequivocally that he doesn’t see a man when he looks at his former coach, but rather a snake. These incendiary remarks represent the latest chapter in a bitter rivalry that began at Barcelona in 2010 and intensified during their reunion at Manchester City six years later.
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The Barcelona Betrayal That Started It All
The fractured relationship between Toure and Guardiola originated during their time together at Barcelona, when the Spanish tactician made the controversial decision to promote Sergio Busquets from the B team in 2010, effectively displacing Toure from the starting lineup. Guardiola believed Busquets was a better fit for his iconic 4-3-3 system that would go on to define Barcelona’s golden era.
Toure’s role diminished dramatically in what would be his final season at the Camp Nou. The powerful midfielder completed a full 90 minutes on just nine occasions and was frequently deployed out of position at centre-back, a move that left him feeling undervalued and disrespected. Despite his contributions to Barcelona’s 2009 Champions League triumph, Toure found himself marginalized and unwanted under Guardiola’s regime.
His Wife’s Brutal Verdict: “He Treated You Like Dirt”
Perhaps the most explosive revelation in Toure’s latest interview concerns his wife’s reaction to Guardiola’s attempts to convince him to stay at Barcelona. According to Toure, after being sidelined for most of the season, Guardiola called him back and insisted it was important that he return to the club. His wife’s response was nothing short of scathing.
“My wife says to me, ‘Are you going to listen to that nonsense? He treated you like dirt, and now he wants you to stay, and you’re going to stay? Let’s go to Manchester, my brother,’” Toure recounted. The midfielder revealed that his wife held even stronger views about Guardiola’s character, describing him using the Arabic term “Sheytan,” meaning devil or Satan.
According to Toure, his wife told him directly: “Him? Sheytan. He’s not a man, he’s a snake, he’s evil. She sees him as a negative person.” This family intervention proved decisive in Toure’s decision to reject any reconciliation with Barcelona and instead pursue his future at Manchester City, a move that would define the peak years of his illustrious career.
Shining at the World Cup, Still Rejected
Adding insult to injury, Toure explained that he performed brilliantly at the 2010 World Cup for Ivory Coast despite Guardiola barely playing him throughout the season. Yet even after this impressive display on football’s grandest stage, the Barcelona manager’s overtures felt hollow and disingenuous to both Toure and his family.
“The guy didn’t play me all year, and at the end of the year, I shine at the World Cup, and he brings me to Barcelona,” Toure stated, highlighting what he perceived as Guardiola’s opportunistic and manipulative behavior. This pattern of being cast aside only to be wanted when convenient would repeat itself years later when their paths crossed again in Manchester.
The Manchester City Reunion That Reignited Tensions
Toure’s move to Manchester City in 2010 for approximately 24 million euros proved to be one of the most significant transfers in Premier League history. The Ivorian powerhouse became a Manchester City legend, playing a pivotal role in ending the club’s 35-year trophy drought and ushering in an era of unprecedented success.
He scored the winning goals in both the 2011 FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United and the final against Stoke City, securing City’s first major trophy since 1976. More importantly, he was instrumental in delivering City’s first two Premier League titles in 2011-12 and 2013-14, providing vital performances and crucial goals including a decisive brace at Newcastle in May 2012 that set up the dramatic final-day title triumph against QPR.
The 2013-14 season represented Toure’s absolute peak, when he scored an astonishing 20 Premier League goals and provided nine assists from central midfield, becoming only the second midfielder to reach that scoring tally in a single Premier League campaign. During these years, he was widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in world football, winning the African Footballer of the Year award for four consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2014.
History Repeats Under Guardiola at City
However, when Guardiola arrived at Manchester City in 2016, the dynamic that had plagued their Barcelona relationship immediately resurfaced. Despite Toure’s legendary status at the club, Guardiola once again relegated him to a bit-part role, drastically reducing his playing time and ultimately excluding him from the Champions League squad entirely.
This decision prompted Toure’s agent, Dimitri Seluk, to publicly blast Guardiola, claiming his client had been “humiliated” by the exclusion. Seluk’s fiery criticisms created a public relations nightmare for the club, forcing Guardiola to demand an apology before he would consider reintegrating Toure into the squad.
Although Seluk eventually apologized and Toure was temporarily brought back into the fold, the damage was irreparable. In his final season at Manchester City during the 2017-18 campaign, Toure featured in just 10 Premier League matches before departing the club in May 2018. His exit was unceremonious and bitter, a stark contrast to the hero’s send-off his contributions to the club arguably deserved.
Allegations of Racial Bias
The feud took an even more contentious turn when Toure accused Guardiola of having “problems with African players,” suggesting patterns of unfair treatment toward players from the continent. These allegations added a deeply troubling dimension to their personal conflict, though Toure later claimed he was misquoted and eventually wrote to Guardiola apologizing for the comments.
Guardiola has consistently and firmly denied any such accusations, insisting throughout that there was no personal animosity or racial prejudice influencing his decisions. Despite Toure’s subsequent apology, the allegations left an indelible mark on their relationship and contributed to the perception of Guardiola as someone who could be ruthless in his treatment of players who no longer fit his tactical vision.
A Legacy Overshadowed by Bitterness
Despite the acrimonious nature of their relationship, both men achieved extraordinary success during their careers. Toure’s trophy cabinet includes three Premier League titles, two LaLiga championships, one UEFA Champions League, and five domestic cups. He lifted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 2015 and remains one of the most decorated African players in football history.
Guardiola, meanwhile, has established himself as one of the most successful managers in football history, accumulating an unprecedented collection of domestic and European trophies at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. His tactical innovations have influenced an entire generation of coaches and his teams have set new standards for possession-based, attacking football.
Yet Toure’s latest comments demonstrate that more than 15 years after their initial falling out, and seven years after leaving Manchester City, the wounds remain fresh. The fact that his wife’s brutal assessment of Guardiola’s character continues to resonate with him speaks to the depth of hurt and resentment that persists.
The Irony of Kolo Toure’s Position
Adding a fascinating layer of complexity to this bitter feud is the fact that Yaya’s older brother, Kolo Toure, currently serves as one of Guardiola’s assistant coaches at Manchester City. This professional relationship creates an awkward family dynamic, with Kolo maintaining a productive working relationship with the same man his brother publicly describes as a snake and worse.
Toure’s latest salvo ensures that one of modern football’s most enduring personal conflicts remains very much alive. While Guardiola has maintained his characteristic silence throughout the years, refusing to publicly escalate the feud, Toure’s repeated willingness to air grievances guarantees this story will continue generating headlines for years to come.
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FAQs
Why did Yaya Toure call Pep Guardiola a snake?
Yaya Toure called Pep Guardiola a snake because he felt the manager treated him “like dirt,” marginalizing him at both Barcelona and Manchester City despite his contributions. Toure’s wife also branded Guardiola as “Sheytan” (devil/evil) for his treatment of her husband.
What did Yaya Toure’s wife say about Pep Guardiola?
Toure’s wife told him: “Are you going to listen to that nonsense? He treated you like dirt, and now he wants you to stay?” She called Guardiola “Sheytan” (Arabic for Satan/devil), saying “He’s not a man, he’s a snake, he’s evil.”
Why did Yaya Toure leave Barcelona?
Toure left Barcelona in 2010 after Guardiola promoted Sergio Busquets and reduced Toure’s role. He completed 90 minutes just nine times in his final season and was often played out of position at centre-back, leading him to join Manchester City.
How successful was Yaya Toure at Manchester City?
Toure became a Manchester City legend, scoring winning goals in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and final, helping win the club’s first two Premier League titles (2011-12, 2013-14), and scoring 20 league goals in 2013-14. He won African Footballer of the Year four consecutive times (2011-2014).
What happened between Yaya Toure and Pep Guardiola at Manchester City?
When Guardiola joined City in 2016, he again reduced Toure’s playing time and excluded him from the Champions League squad. Toure’s agent publicly criticized Guardiola, leading to a demand for an apology. Toure played just 10 Premier League games in his final season before leaving in 2018.
