The speculations of Manchester City’s interest in Barcelona
goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was looming in recent days. For once and all when I
thought the news could be untrue, to much of my surprise news breakout as this
week when the Chile international touched down in the City of Manchester for a
medical to join Pep Guardiola’s side.
The coming of Bravo or any other world-class goalkeeper was not
something that was unexpected ever since Pep took charge at the Etihad. It is
also understood that the Spanish tactician wants to work with players he knew
from the past.
The real question here is the future of Joe Hart. He already lost
his number one spot to Willy Caballero, who was picked to keep the post for
City’s opening league games. By reading meanings into what has happened to the
latter, it tells clearly that he has now fallen below the pecking order at Man
City to atleast become the third choice goalkeeper. It is also understood that
Pep asked the 20-year-old Angus Gunn to battle the 34-year-old Caballero to
earn a spot as third goal-keeper while Bravo is being assured of number one
choice.
Pep Guardiola recently said of Joe Hart: “I explain what we want
from our goalkeepers. With a goalkeeper the first thing I am looking for is to
make saves. That is the most important thing. He (Joe Hart) has to play with
the ball. Joe Hart has to help us to create a good build-up. That’s why I am
here.”
Every football enthusiast will agree that Joe Hart is one of the
pillars on which the success of Man City was build upon in recent times. Since
they recruited him in 2006, he went on several loan spells to build his
confident and development before finally becoming first choice in 2010.
“Maybe Joe will stay and be a player who will fight with the other
goalkeepers to convince me to play him. It’s simple like that. He knows from
the beginning what I feel and what is the situation,” said Pep Guardiola after
he was questioned about Hart’s future.
What is actually needed by such a goalkeeper who has vast
experience for both club and country in his gloves? With all due respect to Pep
and his tactics, I think he could have just lure Joe Hart to adopt his style
than telling him to compete with goalkeepers whom he has high pedigree and age
factor.
Hart helped Man City to win two Premier League titles between 2011
and 2014 and set a club record of 29 cleans sheets as a goalkeeper surpassing
Nicky Weaver’s 26 mark and four times Golden Gloves and such a goalkeeper is in
frustration regarding his future at the moment.
Where will Joe Hart go ?
We understood Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund are interested in the
29-year old, but going to either of these two clubs doesn’t guarantee an
automatic selection. It is the same story with Everton which was named to snap
him up immediately. But Ronald Koeman has recently acquired the services of his
compatriot Maarten Skeletenburg.
On 31, August the transfer window will be closed and with the
continues happenings at Man City. Hart must decide on his future whether he is
staying Man City or not as his international number spot is also another major
concern.
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