Bucharest: Yaya Touré has not been included in Manchester City’s travelling party for Tuesday’s Champions League play-off first leg against Steaua Bucharest, kick-off 10.45pm UAE time, casting further doubt over his future at the club under Pep Guardiola.
The Ivorian was also not involved in Saturday’s Premier League opening day win over Sunderland.
Jason Denayer, the Belgian centre-half, is also absent from the group that travelled to the Romanian capital amid reports of a possible move away from the club, though young players Angus Gunn, Tosin Adarabioyo and Angel Tasende have made the trip.
Leroy Sané remains injured, while Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Eliaquim Mangala have been left out.
Though he is in the squad after being left on the bench on Saturday, Joe Hart fears his Manchester City career could be over and that there is no way back for him under Pep Guardiola.
The club are thought to be willing to listen to offers for the England goalkeeper.
Hart was dropped to the bench for City’s opening Premier League game against Sunderland and believes Guardiola — who admitted the goalkeeper was “sad, upset and unhappy” at being axed — is prepared to offload him before the close of the transfer window a fortnight on Wednesday.
Guardiola is expected to keep faith with Willy Caballero against Steaua Bucharest in Romania, with City keen to avoid Hart being cup-tied in the competition in the event he is sold or loaned out. Sevilla are thought to be interested in signing Hart either permanently or on loan and Everton are reportedly among the goalkeeper’s potential Premier League suitors. Reports in Spain claimed City were moving closer to signing Barcelona goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo, amid continuing frustration in their efforts to buy his club teammate, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, since the Spanish champions are keen to keep hold of the German. Guardiola wants a so-called “sweeper keeper” who is good with his feet and has harboured doubts about Hart’s ability to fulfil that role for some time, although the prospect of him parting company with the 29-year-old — a figurehead for City and central pillar in the club’s two Premier League titles — would still be a bold move.
Ahead of the match, Laurentiu Reghecampf, the Steaua Bucharest boss, said: “I am very confident we will qualify for the group stage again. We have a very strong team and the match starts at 0-0,”
The second leg takes place next Wednesday.
