Yaya Toure's agent has described Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini as a "weak manager" while also criticising the club's chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain.
Toure's performances have come under the microscope during a dismal run of form for City which has seen them go from title contenders to their current position of fourth in the Premier League table.
And agent Dimitri Seluk claims the club are trying to make Toure a scapegoat for bigger problems behind the scenes.
He told the Sunday Mirror: "Some people at City are trying to blame Yaya for what has happened this season. But those people aren't taking responsibility for their own mistakes.
"I am talking about executives who have bought players for a lot of money and then put those players on the bench.
"Executives spend a lot of money on Stevan Jovetic and then drop him from the Champions League squad. I feel sorry for Pellegrini. He's a good coach but a weak manager.
"He won the title with the team left behind by Roberto Mancini."
The 31-year-old Toure, whose relationship with the club came under strain last summer, has been linked with a move away this summer.
Seluk added: "If City want Yaya to leave, they should come out and say so.
"Two of the biggest clubs have already asked me if he is available and I know that if City would sell, another 10 would call me inside 24 hours."
