As Claudio toils, will it be ‘bravo Joe’?

SOUTH of Manchester by 750 miles, at around the time Claudio Bravo was learning about the unique aerial dimension of English football, Sinisa Mihajlovic was wondering aloud what sort of goalkeeper Pep Guardiola might be after.

‘Maybe he wants a goalkeeper who is good with his feet,’ said Torino boss Mihajlovic.

‘But with Joe Hart I have a goalkeeper who is good with his feet.

‘Maybe he wants a goalkeeper who can play like Guardiola.’ Cue laughter in the press room of the Stadio Olimpico.

‘If he has another player he doesn’t like, he can tell me and I will have him also here in Torino,’ added the 47-year-old Serb.

Mihajlovic is not afraid to make a little mischief and is pleased with the coup which lured England’s No.1 goalkeeper to Serie A after he was forced out by Manchester City’s £15million move for Bravo, from Barcelona.

Guardiola prefers a ‘sweeper-keeper’, apparently, someone capable of launching moves such as the one which ended in Kevin De Bruyne’s goal at Old Trafford. As time develops, however, he may long for one who can pull crosses out of the sky. Hart will make his debut in Italy today, when Torino travel to play Atalanta in Bergamo. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry, although not one to match the Manchester derby.

Hart’s new team have made an encouraging start to the campaigne, losing 3-2 AC Milan and beating Bologna 5-1.

His arrival has been greeted warmly fans of a team often eclipsed by neighbours Juventus.

Hart’s No.21 shirt is selling in the club shop and the tifosi are fascinated by the arrival of the 29year-old, who is the first English goalkeeper to play in Italy since Serie A began in 1929.

‘I’m not surprised he came here said Mihajlovic, who was appointed Torino boss in May after being sacked by AC Milan.

‘I spoke to him before he signed because I wanted to understand if his heart was in this move. I wanted a player who wanted to play for Torino and I had good feedback from him.’