Manchester City star Yaya Toure 'is likely to leave' once Pep Guardiola becomes manager

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is likely to leave the club once Pep Guardiola arrives, according to the player's agent. The 32-year-old powerhouse played under Guardiola during their time at Barcelona, but Dimitri Seluk has admitted the Spaniard's arrival is likely to spell the end for Toure at the Etihad Stadium.

City announced the appointment of the much sought-after coach on Monday (1 February) and he is set to assume control of the first team from the start of the 2016-17 season. But Toure's agent has predicted his client will be playing elsewhere by that time. "I think Yaya will leave the club," Seluk said, according to The Sun. "But before leaving I hope he will win again the league and all the cups.

"It's not a question of whether Pep likes him or not. It's life, you know. Pep can call Yaya and speak to him to let him know 'I'm with you' or 'I am not with you'."

Toure has been persistently linked with moves away from City over the last few years, with Paris Saint-Germain rumoured to be among the interested clubs.

He has, however, also been an influential figure in City's recent successes, helping the club to win two Premier League titles, in 2012 and 2014, as well as the FA Cup and League Cup. The Ivorian midfielder has made 251 appearances for City and scored 70 goals for the club since joining them from Barcelona in 2010.

Meanwhile, Seluk also claimed Toure has "opened the door" for the likes of Guardiola, City's technical director Txiki Beguiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano to make the move to the Premier League.

"Yaya opened the door for the people who worked for Barcelona. Yaya went to a place where many changes were necessary. He was not afraid. But now everybody from Barca comes to City," he said. "Yaya won every trophy in England without Guardiola. Will Guardiola win without Yaya?"