Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola defended by Kevin De Bruyne against Yaya Toure racism claims
Catalan boss has sensationally been accused of having a 'problem' with African players by former Etihad star
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KEVIN DE BRUYNE has leapt to Pep Guardiola’s defence in the wake of Yaya Toure’s racism claims.
Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya sensationally said his old boss has a “problem” with African players.
Toure departed the Etihad after eight years of service in May, scooping a third Premier League title in the process.
But the ace believes his send-off was ruined by Guardiola due to a lack of game time, and has now offered to play for another top six side for just £1 in order to gain revenge next season.
However, ex-Barcelona team-mate Eidur Gudjohnsen claims there were no signs of Guardiola’s alleged discrimination when the trio were together at the Nou Camp.
And City star De Bruyne has now waded into the debate, claiming that he’s never seeing anything remotely racist at the club during his time there.
De Bruyne told the BBC World Football Show: “I never saw something. It would be weird if the trainer be a racist with all the black guys in our team.
“So I don’t know what Yaya said or if it’s wrongly written or exaggerated. When you don’t play there’s always something you try to find.
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“We had the best season ever so in the end the coach took the right decision to play with the team who played a lot.
“So this year the trainer probably thought he wasn’t doing enough, wasn’t fit enough. I’ve never seen something racist in the club, ever.”
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Toure told France Football on Monday: "It feels like he was jealous of me, he saw me as a rival... as if I was taking the limelight away from him.
"It got to the point I asked myself if it was because of my colour.
"I'm not the first, other Barca players asked the question too. Maybe us Africans aren't always treated the same by certain people.
"When you see the problems he [Pep] has often had with African players, everywhere he has been, I ask myself questions.
"He's too intelligent to be caught. He'll never admit it [not liking Africans].
"But the day he picks a team with five Africans in, I promise I will send him a cake!
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"He was cruel with me. Do you really think he could've been like that with Iniesta?
"Beyond that, Pep likes to dominate and wants to have obedient players who kiss his hands.
"I don't like that kind of relationship. I respect my coach but I'm not his thing.
"He stole my farewell with City, a club with beautiful fans.
"I would have liked to leave with emotion of this club the way Iniesta [left Barca] or Gianluigi Buffon [left Juventus]. But Pep prevented me."