Football
Liam Twomey, Chelsea correspondent 7y

Manchester City goalkeepers 'nowhere near as good' as Joe Hart - Seaman

Joe Hart is showing why Pep Guardiola was wrong to let him leave Manchester City in search of regular first-team football at Torino at the start of the season, according to former England No. 1 goalkeeper David Seaman.

Guardiola dropped Hart in favour of Willy Caballero back in August before signing Chile international Claudio Bravo from Barcelona, having made it clear that the 29-year-old did not possess the technical qualities he required from his first-choice goalkeeper.

Hart elected to spend the season in Italy with Torino where he has largely performed solidly, keeping five clean sheets in 27 Serie A appearances, while Bravo has lost his place to Caballero at City after making a series of high-profile and costly errors.

"I must say I'm having a little chuckle," Seaman said at the London Football Awards when asked about City's goalkeeper situation. "When you see what Joe's capable of and what's going on [at City] at the moment, it's a shame.

"The decision was made and that's it. I'm glad that Joe is playing high-quality football and then when he comes back [on international duty] with England, he still performs like we know he can.

"I know Joe is a good goalkeeper. I've always rated him very highly -- not just because of what he does on the pitch, but because of the way he reacts to setbacks.

"He's had a few and he didn't have the best Euros, but he's reacted properly to it. He's still performing and when you look at the guys who are replacing him [at City], they're nowhere near as good."

Asked why he thought Guardiola had decided Hart was surplus to requirements after six successful years as City's No. 1, Seaman replied: "You'll have to ask Pep that. It shocked me and I'm sure it shocked a lot of City fans."

In an interview with the BBC's "Premier League Show" earlier this month, Hart admitted he believes his City career is over, saying that his priority this summer is to join "a club that wants me to be their goalkeeper."

Seaman believes Hart will go into the transfer window in a strong position, regardless of whether or not Guardiola changes his mind.

"Joe is winning anyway, because he's still playing high-level football," Seaman insisted. "He's still performing to great levels and then coming back, playing for England and showing what he can do. For me, his levels haven't dropped."

Hart is expected to keep his place when England resume their World Cup qualifying campaign against Lithuania at Wembley on Sunday.

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