“Joe Hart is an worldwide goalkeeper with a considerable experience in Manchester City Football Club and in his national team, where he made his debut when he was only 21”, said Torino president Urbano Cairo.
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‘Despite his age, I still believe that Hart can keep improving, especially because the coaches over here are very good.
Hart spent the following year as understudy to Shay Given in the league but 2010/11 proved to be his breakthrough season as Roberto Mancini installed him as first-choice goalkeeper and he went on to lift his first major trophy, the FA Cup, at season’s end.
Hart told Torino’s website: “Torino’s offer came at the right moment for me, in the right manner, and I’m very excited to test myself in an important and attractive league such as Serie A”.
Hart, now training with the England squad ahead of their World Cup Qualifier against Slovakia flew to Turin to finalise the deal.
But his sudden demotion by Guardiola underlines the Spaniard’s determination to take the club in a different direction. The Ivory Coast striker’s career has stalled after joining from Swansea for 28 million pounds ($36.6 million) in January 2015, with a combination of worldwide call-ups, injuries, illness and poor form preventing him from establishing himself at City.
The Arsenal goalkeeper, plying his trade on loan at Roma, has sent a message to the Manchester City man after he agreed his own switch to Italy.
But his record at Swansea was impressive and Stoke boss Mark Hughes is hopeful of getting the best out of the player. “Eighteen months ago he was being bought for a hugely significant amount of money, so we know that we are bringing in a top quality striker”.
Here are some of the City fans’ reactions…
The 25-year-old France worldwide had a number of options after being told he could find another club.
Pep Guardiola arrived at the Etihad from Bayern Munich earlier this summer.
Champions Leicester City were closing in on a deal for Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani, who was allowed to leave Algeria’s training camp in Algiers to undergo a medical.
Manchester City custodian Joe Hart joins Serie A side Torino FC on a one-year loan deal.
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Inter confirmed the signing of Barbosa on his 20th birthday late on Tuesday.
