Pep Guardiola: Fans convinced Yaya Toure's Man City 'curse' has reached next stage | OneFootball

Man City are in disarray at the moment and some fans are convinced that Yaya Toure is responsible.

City have been charged by the Premier League for more than 100 breaches of financial rules and have been referred to an independent commission for investigation.

According to reports, the club could face a number of possible sanctions, including point deductions, sizeable fines and even relegation if found guilty.

Given City’s recent form and the latest allegations made against the club, it’s no exaggeration to say that it feels like they’re under some sort of voodoo spell at present.

And some believe that former City icon Toure is behind all this, with his agent Dimitriy Seluk declaring an ‘African curse’ on Pep Guardiola back in 2018.

What is the Yaya Toure curse?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Yaya Toure of Manchester City shakes hands wtih Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City after he is subbed off during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at Etihad Stadium on May 9, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Toure is one of the best midfielders ever to play for City, yet he was dropped by Guardiola in his final season –– something the Ivory Coast star and his agent have never let slide.

Indeed, Seluk went on the record to declare that a curse would ensure that the Spaniard would never win the Champions League again.

“He [Guardiola] turned all Africa against himself, many African fans turned away from Manchester City,” suggested Seluk at the time.

“And I’m sure that many African shamans in the future will not allow Guardiola to win the Champions League.”

He added: “This will be for Guardiola an African curse. Life will show whether I am right or not.

“The fact that Guardiola ended Yaya’s career in Manchester City is not even a mistake, but a crime.”

Since then, City have been plagued with bad luck in the Champions League and Guardiola is yet to add to his three European triumphs.

Indeed, the Citizens lost the 2021 Champions League final to Chelsea and were knocked out in the semi-finals by Real Madrid last year, courtesy of a stunning comeback.

African curse reaches next stage

Some fans have now suggested that this curse has entered the ‘next phase’, hence why the club has found itself in turmoil.

“Yaya Toure getting to see his curse on Man City enter a new phase,” said one Twitter user.

“From not letting them win the CL [Champions League], to pushing them to the Championship,” stressed another.

“Yaya Toure’s curse will haunt Pep Guardiola forever,” added a third.

What will happen to Man City?

While it’s unclear exactly what will happen to City, Stefan Borson, a former financial advisor for the club, believes that the club will be relegated if the charges are proven to be true.

“Alarmist or not, the sheer extent of the PL charges are at a level that IF found proven, must lead to relegation,” he tweeted.

Nick Harris, another expert on money in football, added: “Stefan is a former financial adviser to Man City, a Man City fan, a former banker, current lawyer, CEO & general counsel to a PLC dealing with allegations of historic accounting issues. Also well across FFP issues. So this is an interesting view.”

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: General view inside the stadium with a close up of the corner flag prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Whichever way you look at it, it’s not good news for City right now.

Whether Toure is responsible, who knows?