7) Joe Hart: Manchester City → Torino
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Joe Hart is Manchester City through and through, having signed for the Manchester club before their rise to the top of the Premier League. As Manchester City’s number one goalkeeper since 2007, he looked set to become one of the club’s biggest legends.
Hart has played week in and week out for the Citizens, his place in the team rarely debated. His passion for the club is also something that is irrefutable, and despite the occasional mistake in him, he has been England’s first choice keeper for many years.
Enter Pep Guardiola. After a poor showing at Euro 2016, some began to express their doubts about the former Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper. Reports then came out of Manchester City, claiming that their new manager Pep Guardiola did not believe Hart fit into his plans, due to the English keeper’s unconvincing passing statistics. Reports of a falling out between the player and the manager also emerged.
When City’s first Premier League game of the season went underway, Joe Hart was astonishingly dropped in favor of Willy Caballero. This was undoubtedly a massive statement from the renowned Spanish manager. Rumours of loan moves to Everton and Sunderland emerged, as it seemed increasingly likely that Hart would ply his trade for another Premier League club for the remainder of the season.
Hart turned down all these offers, only to accept a move from...Torino. Though many top clubs have solid goalkeepers, the fact that no other clubs wanted Joe Hart’s services amazed the football world. Hart made his move to Turin in the last days of the transfer window.
The fact that Hart had to resort to Torino, considered a sleeping giant in Serie A, has shocked many. But perhaps what has been more shocking is the brutal treatment he received from Pep, as he was replaced by Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo. While Bravo is undoubtedly a world class goalkeeper, Hart’s departure from Manchester City has been saddening. Despite many fans claiming that City is a money oriented club, Joe Hart has been a player with unquestionable love for Manchester City.
Although it is just a loan deal, it is doubtless that this is the end of an era for Hart’s career. On 25 August, Hart played his last match in a City shirt prior to his departure to Italy and was named captain for the night. In one of the more emotional matches, he received thunderous applause from fans and Joe Hart was visibly moved, which goes to show how much he cares about his parent club.
