Joe Hart has opened up about his departure from Manchester City, describing Pep Guardiola as a 'top manager' and admitting he appreciated the manager's honesty with him.
The England goalkeeper lost his place in the City team when Guardiola came in as manager in 2016 and was subsequently loaned to Torino and then West Ham before moving permanently to Burnley this year.
Guardiola wanted a goalkeeper that was more comfortable with the ball at his feet, eventually signed the Brazilian Ederson Moraes to replace Hart in 2017.
But Hart bears Guardiola no grudges for ousting him from the club where he'd been No 1 for eight seasons, winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups in that time.
'I'm cool with Pep, I think he's a top manager,' Hart told Sky Sports ahead of Burnley's Premier League visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
'He came in and was dead honest with me. I looked him in the eye and shook his hands, I thanked him for his honesty.
'I didn't thank him for his opinion, but his honesty was second to none. We tried to make the best of a bad situation for both of us.
'It is what it is. I moved on, worked hard, trained with City, I was welcomed back the last couple of pre-seasons.
'It could have easily been awkward, but it wasn't.'
Hart, 31, struggled at times during his loan spells with Torino in Serie A and West Ham in the Premier League, but has acquired a fresh lease of life since joining Burnley.
'I made it clear to City that I didn't want to go on loan again,' he said. 'I had one year left on my contract and I've said before it's a strange situation for me.
'I know what qualities I bring, I know what I've done and what I can still do. People weren't banging the door down for me, that's the truth.
'They [Burnley] enquired because they needed a keeper. I told them I appreciate it but I don't want to go on loan. A loan in my opinion is for young players who are trying to improve.
'I've probably got more to prove than anyone else. I didn't necessarily do very well with West Ham. I felt like I was in the right place to do the right things but it didn't work out for me.
'You've got no real ground, no real base or no backing as a loan player. It's been tough but no one said it would be easy.
'I've achieved some amazing things in my career but my career is only half way through. I'm 31, fitter than I've ever been, physically and mentally stronger and prepared.'
Among those career achievements are 75 caps for England and Hart hasn't ruled out playing for the national side again despite missing out on the World Cup squad over the summer.
'If I was asked to play for England tomorrow I'd be ready,' he said. 'But at the moment, managers are always going to have opinions.
'I can only get myself as I can, to the highest of my level, and then it's up to everyone else.
'Stuff out of my hands is out of my hands, how people want to play it is up to them. I am going to continue to push, Burnley is obviously my priority, and whatever happens, happens.
'I could have had a long summer where I felt sorry for myself, but I love it too much, I love challenges.
'The summer was amazing, I was absolutely gutted and other words that I wasn't in the World Cup squad, but you've got to make the best. I had a fantastic summer, I enjoyed it, I bounced into this pre-season, and I'm ready to go.
'Loved the players, big fans of them, couldn't be prouder of what they did. It made people happy, it put smiles on people's faces, myself included.
'I'll keep supporting, I'll be an England fan no matter what, and I'll stay true to my word.'
Ludicrous
57
Honestly he admits it himself kinda, he's always been the bad guy. Whether it's made out to be or it really was like that is up to everyone to decide. But Pep had the unenviable task of clearing the old guard that had caused the stagnation and starting afresh. Almost anyone who didn't know the dressing room well would pick out Eto'o as well. And he was up front with him as well. Eto'o says it himself in the video. The real problem was the bad blood that formed between them and the idea of the striker Pep had in his head. Basically Ibra if he was a team player. If we had kept Eto'o in damn sure we'd have kept an edge and inter wouldn't have had theirs. A damn shame that. PS I love Eto'o. I always believed we need a firebrand type of personality that burns to win. Look at what Suarez brought the moment he joined
yumaster
56
But Pep told him to his face, which should be noted. Zlatan, if I recall correctly, said Pep just shunned him and didn’t tell him why he wasn’t favored
ppstreamg
56
Joe : "wash and go?" Pep : "Just Go"
perhaps
51
Love honesty as long as it’s not disrespectful. Nobody likes to be bullshitted. If Joe wasn’t part of his plans he deserved to know and that certainly doesn’t make Pep a bad guy. Kudos to Joe for not bad mouthing him like many would have. Professional on both sides.
Unhappygirl
39
I mean...their interactions and relationship could have been completely different. Sounds like Pep and Hart talked for about 15 minutes total in their life, and it was Pep telling him straight up he wasnt needed and to look for another club. You cant just use a blanket statement and assume everyone who got the wrong end of Pep had the same experience. He also has likely grown in the last 8-9 years since he managed Ibra and etoo
foreverbay
38
He's always been like that at FC Barcelona. If he didn't have plans for you in the team, he wouldn't beat around the bush, he makes sure you know it. Eto'o and Zlatan are testaments to that.
Mocca
34
Pep : "Joe, those Head and Shoulders adverts are wank" Joe : "Thank you for your honesty, but I respectfully disagree"
license
27
It's possible that situation made Pep more upfront moving forward. If it's the case, at least he's showing his ability to learn from his mistakes and better himself.
Babysong
20
I just saw "Joe Hart" and "peak" in the same sentence. Where do you rank him in the history of keepers. Like throw a number out.