The Chile worldwide completed a £13.75million move from Barcelona to City this week and was expected to be installed immediately as Pep Guardiola’s new number one.
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Hart, 29, was dropped by Guardiola for the first three games of the season but was made captain for their Champions League play-off win against Steaua Bucharest.
Guardiola learned on Thursday his Champions League challenge with City this season will take him back to Barcelona, the club where he established himself as one of the world’s foremost coaches.
Claudio Bravo will not be rushed straight into the Manchester City side for their Premier League clash with West Ham this weekend. I know the club is building something very special and I hope I can be part of many successes in the coming years.
“Claudio is a fantastic goalkeeper and an excellent addition to our squad”, Guardiola told the club website.
He was signed on the recommendation of Pep Guardiola who wanted a goal keeper who is good with his feet. The manager further said that Bravo has experience and great leadership qualities, adding that he was in the prime of his life.
Bravo’s arrival has thrown Hart’s future at the club into doubt. “He is a goalkeeper I have admired for a number of years and I’m really happy he is now a City player”. He is now effectively third choice.
Everton seemed a potential destination late last week but manager Ronald Koeman has said he has “no interest” in signing Hart.
“We want the best for him and of course the club is going to help him get the best solution for him”, Guardiola said of Hart, a player he described as a City “legend” this week.
Hart’s preference will be to go on loan in the knowledge that in a year’s time, numerous highest calibre clubs who do not now need a new No 1 might be reviewing the situation.
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City will be keener to recoup some funds immediately, so a loan deal is less attractive to them.
