Of all the decisions Pep Guardiola has had to make as Manchester City manager, deciding that club legend Joe Hart was not part of his plans was the toughest.
The way that Guardiola dropped Hart from the City team in 2016 - as he wanted a goalkeeper more comfortable with his feet -was deeply unpopular among Blues at the time. Now, speaking on the In The Stiffs podcast, the legendary goalkeeper has revealed the conversation he had with Guardiola that told him his time was up.
"It was a two-hour conversation that kind of ended with him [Guardiola] saying 'I can’t see this working'," Hart said.
READ MORE: Joe Hart opens up on Pep Guardiola conversation that ended Man City career
"I said 'I thought that might be the idea, 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'.
"I was like 'it’s all very well saying that, but I’ve never been asked to do the kind of things I know you like your goalkeepers to do, so I think 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."
It's fascinating to hear Hart's side of the story after five-and-a-half years, as it's an issue that clearly still divides City fans. Here's some of the reaction from Twitter.
@Yorksblue61: I get the sentiment, and no Bravo wasn't great, but Pep wanted to play a certain way which I don't think Joe could have done. Also I do feel his best years had already happened, as his subsequent career shows.
@Hedghog111: I was fuming at the time, loved Joe and didn’t agree with what Pep was doing… but looking back now it was the right thing to do, Joe is a city legend, but Eddy [Ederson] fits the bill… Pep had bottle and it paid off.
@chappie1963: This is the difference between City and Utd. Sentimentality plays no part in Pep's City, whilst United love an old boy even if he doesn't fit the style of play. Loved Joe Hart but he wasn't as good with his feet as Eddie...
@bluemoonforeve2: Joe Hart was great for City but it was never gonna work for him under Pep. I'm glad Joey looks to have got his career back on track & thankful for everything he did while at City but Pep made the right decision.
@IIM9320: At the time I was so annoyed that Hart just got binned the way he did, but as time goes on you can reflect and see that it was done for the best of the club. However I do wish he got at least a season to prove himself, Bravo was terrible after all.
@EklavyaChawla16: As much as I love Joe, it was 100% the right decision from Pep and I'm glad he made it.
Not everyone agrees though, with some wishing that Hart had been given a chance to prove himself.
@Abuckley000: I mean it obviously wasn't, seeing as how Bravo was absolutely terrible that season. We could have kept Hart and then got Ederson the next season regardless.
@abikuito: Then Pep signed worst keeper in Premier League history: Claudio Bravo
@RobinWagner22: I was p****d off at the time. I fully understand now why Pep wanted a new keeper, but I would've still kept Hart to prove himself. Pep could've signed another keeper and kept Hart as his number two.
Ultimately, what's happened has happened, and no-one could argue that City have missed Hart on the pitch in recent years. All Blues can get behind the following sentiment though.
@KopatychInMood: I hope he'll return someday in Wright/Carson role.
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