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Manuel Pellegrini addresses Toure rumours and needless agent comments

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Manuel Pellegrini responded in typically classy fashion when asked about Yaya Toure and his agent.

The midfielder had been linked with a free transfer to West Ham for much of the summer.

The three-time Premier League winner left Manchester City at the end of 2017/18.

(Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)

That was after the Citizens decided against extending the veteran’s contract.

Toure has since been searching for a new club, and can join a team at any time since he is a free agent.

Seluk teases Toure’s next chapter

On Wednesday, Toure’s agent Dimitry Seluk teased on Twitter that his client had passed a medical at a London-based club.

That has got people speculating about where Toure will wind up, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Fulham, Watford all fitting the bill.

Seluk brutally ruled out West Ham and then Crystal Palace.

All that said, the Mirror report that Seluk’s comments are a smokescreen for his real destination; a return to Olympiakos.

Seluk has since added fuel to that fire by tweeting that the team ‘played Burnley in August’.

The Greek side face the Clarets in Europe on Thursday.

Pellegrini responds

Pellegrini got the chance to address Seluk’s comments during his pre-Wolves press conference on Thursday.

Classy as ever, he said as quoted by football.london: “Unfortunate. The words of the agent of Yaya, because I spoke with him I know how I perceive him as a person, as a player, but at this moment we were doing our squad list, that position was covered. We needed other players so I explained to Yaya clearly why he could not come here but I hope he can find a big club.

Missed opportunity?

In a word; no.

Toure is without doubt one of the greatest ever Premier League midfielders.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

But at 35 he is a shadow of his former self.

He also comes with baggage, it would appear, with Seluk a complex and dislikable character.