Joe Hart: 'Torino only side that wanted to take me on loan'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 19 November 2016

On-loan Torino keeper Joe Hart reveals that he "did not have many options" to choose from when deciding to leave Manchester City during the summer transfer window.

Joe Hart has admitted that his decision to choose Torino as his loan destination after being dumped by Manchester City was down to a lack of other serious options.

The England international quickly fell down the pecking order upon boss Pep Guardiola's arrival in the summer, becoming the Citizens' third choice behind Claudio Bravo and Wilfredo Caballero.

Fan favourite Hart was told that he could find a new club as the summer transfer window reached its climax, opting for a new challenge abroad by joining Serie A side Torino on a season-long deal.

Speaking to Italian publication La Stampa, the 29-year-old revealed that he was not exactly blessed with other options when making a late decision to depart the Etihad Stadium.

"To be honest, it all happened very quickly and I didn't have many options," he said. "If I am here, then it is because there was nowhere else for me to go.

"But I am grateful that this club has given me a big chance to be able to play and do so in a serious, ambitious club. I said yes to Torino because I had always watched Italian football on TV and I had been to Turin before. Now I just want to enjoy this season and I'm not thinking about the future."

Hart has started 10 league games for Torino since joining at the end of August, with the Turin-based club currently seventh in the Serie A table.