CHICAGO, July 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Joe Hart is desperate to leave
Manchester City and reignite his career after being marginalised by Pep
Guardiola.
The former England goalkeeper was axed by the Spaniard following his
appointment two years ago and despite loan spells at Torino and West Ham
United, the 31 year-old has failed to secure a permanent move away from the
Etihad.
Hart made his first City appearance since August 2016 in the International
Champions Cup 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund at Soldier Field on Friday yet
knows his future lies elsewhere.
On as a second-half substitute for Claudio Bravo, the man brought in by
manager Guardiola to replace him, he looked assured and produced an excellent
save midway through the second half.
Chelsea have been linked with a move if Thibaut Courtois departs for Real
Madrid but with Hart in the final year of a contract believed to be worth
around o160,000 per week, only a long-term deal at another club will suffice.
“I’ve never had such a long summer off so it’s just good to be playing
football again,” said Hart who admitted he will sit out the final 12 months
of his contract if he’s unable to find a suitable move.
“I’ve been away, enjoyed it as much as I could. I’ve been dealing with it
the same way I deal with everything. I’m professional and I get on with
things.
“My job is to play football. I’ve got other people trying to sort other
things out for me in terms of a direction. I’m supposed to be here so this is
where I put all my energy and time.
“I need to go somewhere permanent, I think that’s obvious. I did what I did
in the previous two seasons because I needed to play to be involved in the
World Cup.
“And look where that got me. I’ve played at the highest level for a long
time and done a lot of things in the game. I need to be an important player
at that club and I think that can only happen with a permanent move.
“I enjoyed being at both clubs (on loan) for different reasons. It’s an
experience. I’m always going to be a fighter.
“That’s never going to change. I’ve got a year left and I’m not going on
loan again because my situation has changed. I need to feel part of
something.”
Hart’s troubles at City saw him lose his England place to Jordan Pickford
and although he was delighted to see Gareth Southgate’s side upset the odds
in Russia and reach the semi-finals, it wasn’t easy viewing.
“I just wanted the team to do well,” added Hart who still harbors hopes of
an international return.
“I’ve got a lot of good relationships with the boys in the team and I
thought Jordan Pickford had a good World Cup.
“Obviously I wanted to be there, I wanted to be involved.”
Another player who fell foul of Guardiola was Jadon Sancho, the Borussia
Dortmund winger who left City for Germany last summer amid fears he wouldn’t
play enough first team football.
Sancho impressed as a second-half substitute for a Dortmund side who ran
out deserved winners.
“I had a point to prove,” said Sancho.