Joe Hart Opens Up On Conversation With Pep Guardiola That Ended His Manchester City Career

Joe Hart has opened up on the two hour conversation with Pep Guardiola that ultimately brought an end to his spell at Manchester City.

Guardiola joined City in 2016, on the back of England's failure to make it past the second round of the Euros, losing to Iceland in the knockout stages.

At the time there was genuinely concern that Raheem Sterling would be the one to miss out with the introduction, after his poor form for the national team at the tournament, as he was subbed off at the end of the first half in the win over Wales.

However, Sterling's career ended up taking off under Guardiola and, in a surprise twist, it was City's first choice goalkeeper Hart who lost out, as the new manager brought Claudio Bravo in to replace the former Shrewsbury Town keeper.

Hart has now explained that he had a two hour conversation with the former Barcelona boss when he first arrived at the Etihad Stadium, and tried to persuade his new boss to give him a chance.

"I wanted to get in the door and have this conversation," the then City number one said on 'In The Stiffs' Podcast.

"He was very knowledgeable on my background, very knowledgeable on what we did, how I played football, it was a two-hour conversation that kind of ended with him saying 'I can't see this working.'

"I said 'I don't agree with you.' He said. 'I'll be the first person to be proved wrong but what I see in you isn't what I want from my goalkeeper.'

Hart sat on the bench at City under Guardiola. Image: PA Images

"I was like, 'it's only fair I be given the opportunity.' He said, 'of course you'll be given the opportunity, but…' As soon as there are any 'buts' at the end you know there's a decision.

"I wanted the opportunity to be coached by one of the best at it. Of course I didn't know how to do it, why would I know how to do something that I'd never been asked to do or taught to do?

"I suppose he was right, I couldn't do it, he couldn't just drop me into a team to play like he wanted to at that moment in time.

"It was taken away from me, but so what? I'm not bigger than anyone and if that's my path then that's my path. The people of Manchester City will forever be in my heart, I'll forever be grateful for that, but the team, the hierarchy, they're businessmen."

Hart then moved to Torino on loan. Image: PA Images

Having made 347 appearances for the team before Guardiola's arrival, and winning two Premier League titles and the FA Cup, Hart was dropped to the bench for the start of the season.

He made one appearance, in a Champions League qualifier in August, but with a lack of chances to play, he was loaned out to Torino.

After a year in Serie A, Hart returned to the Premier League and went on loan to West Ham United, before finally leaving City permanently for Burnley a year later.

Whilst the signing of Bravo didn't really work out for Guardiola, his plans to get a goalkeeper who was better with the ball at his feet eventually did.

Ederson arrived a year later, in 2017, and has since established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, helping the team win three more league titles and multiple cup competitions.