Hart on the brink of Torino loan move
Joe Hart is on the verge of signing for Italian club Torino according to Sky Sports, the England national team goalkeeper has picked the Italian side over other national clubs like Sunderland because of his desire of playing abroad.
After six consecutive seasons as City’s first choice goalkeeper Hart has made the move to Italy. City’s new manager Pep Guardiola, hasn’t favoured Hart choosing Willy Caballero over him during the first three Premier League matches of the season.
The arrival of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona made Hart third in the new pecking order at the Etihad which brought his chances of being England’s number one during the next World Cup into question.
At the moment, England’s new manager Sam Allardyce has reserved Hart a spot on his first squad. But, presumably, if Hart wants to keep it, he will need to play some significant minutes during the season.
At City, during the reigns of Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, the 29-year-old keeper was the manager’s first option in both European and domestic competitions.
During the last six campaigns, Hart played a total of 281 official games, keeping 114 clean sheets.
Fan favourite, Hart said goodbye -or at least ‘see you later’- to the Etihad Stadium during the past Champions League play-off versus Steaua Bucharest. The keeper, who played the 90 minutes, was given a standing ovation when the match ended.
“It is what it is. But that was a really special night for me. I have had a lot of good nights in football, but it was a really nice night,” said Hart after the game.
Guardiola explained his decision of not counting with Hart: “I need the build-up and to use the goalkeeper to play quicker to arrive the balls behind the line.
“Willy Cabellero had this quality first of all, he trained more times. He arrived on the first day. "That doesn't mean Joe can't do that. I know the quality of Joe, he is an amazing goalkeeper. He plays for the national team and he was so important for the two Premier League (title) wins.
The goalkeeper arrived to City in the 2006/07 campaign from his hometown club Shrewsbury Town. He made his Premier League debut versus Sheffield United on the 14th of October 2006, but he spent most of the season loaned in Tranmere Rovers first and Blackpool later.
His good performances with the Tangerines earned him an opportunity at City, playing 32 matches for the Blues in the next season. Also, he started the 2008/09 campaign as a City’s starting keeper, but finally manager Mark Hughes gave his spot to Shay Given, who had arrived from Newcastle United during the winter transfer window.
On the 2009/10 season, Hart went on loan to Birmingham. In St Andrew’s, the goalkeeper played 42 matches, finishing with clean sheet on 12 of them and earning a second comeback to City.
Hart leaves City after winning two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cups.
Hart’s City stats:
06/07 1 match, 1 clean sheet
07/08 32 matches, 10 clean sheets
08/09 33 matches, 11 clean sheets
10/11 55 matches, 29 clean sheets
11/12 51 matches, 20 clean sheets
12/13 45 matches, 18 clean sheets
13/14 39 matches, 14 clean sheets
14/15 44 matches, 15 clean sheets
15/16 47 matches, 18 clean sheets