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Pep Guardiola could find himself in court over his treatment of Yaya Toure .

Toure has been told he will not play for Manchester City again unless his agent apologises for comments made to Sunday Mirror Sport three weeks ago about the way Guardiola axed the Ivorian from his Champions League squad.

But while Toure’s outspoken adviser, Dimitri Seluk, has been scathing of the Catalan’s decision to ditch the 33-year-old from his Euro plans, the player himself has kept his counsel.

And Seluk believes City are in breach of contract by standing by Guardiola’s banishment of the midfielder from his first-team squad.

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Now, the Monaco-based agent is considering whether to take the matter to court.

Seluk said: “What Guardiola is doing is illegal.

"He thinks he can act like this because Yaya is in the last year of his contract and FIFA’s regulations say we can only appeal about this decision at the end of the season.

"But the fact is that Yaya is being punished for things he hasn’t said.

“As his agent and friend, it is my job to speak if I feel Yaya is not being treated fairly. But Yaya himself has acted professionally and has not said anything about Guardiola and his situation in Manchester.

“I believe this breaks employment law, so we will see.”

FIFA regulations state a player can walk away from his contract if he is not selected for at least 10 per cent of his club’s games when he is free of both injury and suspension.

But any appeal can only be lodged at the end of a season.

(Image: Getty Images) (Image: BPI)

City are reported to be ready to let Toure leave during the January transfer window but they have yet to give Seluk permission to speak to any interested clubs.

They would also have to pay up the remaining eight months of the midfielder’s contract - around £10million - in full.

Toure’s £220,000-a-week deal also includes a lucrative package of bonuses which would see him walk away with millions more if City are successful over the coming months.

Winning the Premier League and qualifying for the Champions League are worth £1.5million to the Ivorian.

And there is also a loyalty bonus due if he completes the four-year contract he signed in summer 2013.

City will have to decide whether the cost of cutting Toure loose is worth it.

But Seluk insists money is not his prime concern.

(Image: Getty) (Image: The FA via Getty) (Image: Getty) (Image: AFP/Getty)

He said: “If City want Yaya to leave in January then they must tell me and we can talk.

“Of course, the financial situation must be considered, but this is not about money and never has been. Yaya needs respect, not money. He could have left the club in the summer and could have earned as much as he is at City, but the club would not give us the authorisation to make the transfer.

“City must talk to me.

"At the moment, Yaya will stay in Manchester until the end of the season. If he isn’t playing, it is not an ideal situation for him or for City, but if that is what they want then his body will be rested and he will be ready for a new challenge next season.”

* MANCHESTER CITY are chasing highly-rated Juventus striker Moise Kean. The 16-year-old can play up front or on the wing and scored 24 goals in 25 games in last season’s UEFA Youth League.

The Blues have also nabbed Wales wonderkid Rabbi Matondo, dubbed the next Aaron Ramsey, on a free from Cardiff City.