Yaya Toure has been left out of the Manchester City squad for the first leg of the crucial Champions League playoff against Steaua Bucharest.
Toure, 33, was not included in Pep Guardiola's 18-man squad for his first game in charge on Saturday -- the 2-1 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League.
Guardiola confirmed in his prematch news conference at the Arena Nationala that the Ivory Coast international did not make the 21-man squad that flew to Romania on Sunday night.
"I was not sure if he was going to play, and so I prefer it if he stays there training good in Manchester," the manager said.
Toure's representative Dimitri Seluk told Sky Sports: "Pep's the best manager in the world. Hope he gives Yaya the chance to prove he's still good enough.
"Yaya is the perfect professional and he will do his job. City fans know he will do his best. There is no talk of a transfer. Yaya will stay and fight."
Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri and Wilfried Bony have also not travelled after being left out of the Champions League squad. Belgium international defender Jason Denayer was also missing despite being eligible to play.
The decision will cast further doubt over their futures after Pep Guardiola said he needed to slim down his first-team squad.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart is uncertain about his long-term place at the Etihad after being dropped to the bench for the game against Sunderland.
The England international was in the squad for Bucharest and Guardiola said that he could replace Willy Caballero in the first leg on Tuesday.
"Of course he can play. All the players in the squad can play," the Spaniard said after the win over Sunderland. "From now [until] tomorrow morning I am going to decide what is best for the team."
New signing Leroy Sane is missing from the 21-man squad because of a small hamstring problem but defender Nicolas Otamendi has travelled despite having a small tendon problem.
Academy youngsters Angus Gunn, Angelino and Tosin Adarabioyo have also travelled to Bucharest with a place in the Champions League group stage at stake.