Hart seals Torino move
- (August 31st 2016)
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has joined Italian side Torino on a season long loan, the clubs have announced.
The 29-year-old made the switch after leaving the England training camp on Tuesday to finalise terms and undergo a medical.
The move is expected to ensure regular action for Hart after he slipped down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium following the signing of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona last week.
With new City boss Pep Guardiola making clear his preference for a ball-playing keeper, Willy Caballero was preferred to Hart for the opening three Premier League matches of the season. The arrival of Bravo then effectively pushed Hart down to third place.
He was given permission to seek first-team football elsewhere and Torino emerged as the most likely destination after Everton and Sevilla distanced themselves from the player and Sunderland's reported interest was not reciprocated.
England manager Sam Allardyce then allowed Hart time away from preparations for Sunday's World Cup qualifier in Slovakia to resolve his club future before Wednesday's transfer deadline.
Hart told the Serie A side's website, torinofc.it: "Suddenly my career has taken a turn. It was a sign. Torino's offer came in the right moment, in the right manner. I am very excited to test myself in as important and beautiful league as Serie A."
Hart had been at City 10 years and been at the centre of all their success in recent seasons, including the Premier League title wins of 2012 and 2014.
But his sudden demotion by Guardiola underlines the decisiveness with which the club are now moving in a new direction under the Spaniard.
Hart was unlikely to be the only player leaving the Etihad Stadium with the club, having spent around £170million on new players this summer, switching focus to trimming the squad.
Striker Wilfried Bony, defender Eliaquim Mangala and playmaker Samir Nasri also seemed to be heading towards the exit with deals with Stoke, Valencia and Sevilla respectively being worked on.
Bony has failed to impress since his £28million signing from Swansea in January last year with a combination of international call-ups, injuries, illness and poor form hampering his progress.
The Ivory Coast forward was understood to be discussing a move to Stoke after tweeting: "It's a new day and I look forward to a new exciting challenge."
Mangala, signed from Porto for £42million two years ago, was sighted in Valencia after a return to the Estadio do Dragao failed to materialise. Former Arsenal midfielder Nasri was told by Guardiola he was welcome to stay and fight for his place but Europa League winners Sevilla seemed a likely destination.