Seaman wants Hart to have the last laugh
DAVID SEAMAN says Joe Hart will have had a “little giggle” at Manchester City’s goalkeeping problems last season.
And the former England and Arsenal No1 is adamant Hart should be back in the Premier League next term to get a closer look at City’s struggles.
Hart has left Torino after a season-long loan spell and City are actively looking to sell him, despite problems with his replacements.
Manager Pep Guardiola spent £18million on Claudio Bravo last summer but he has been error-prone and, while Willy Caballero proved a safer pair of hands, the 35-year-old Argentinian has been released. Guardiola has splashed out again, paying £34.9m – a world-record fee for a goalkeeper – to Benfica for the Brazilian Ederson, and will be keeping his fingers crossed for a smoother transition.
Seaman claims Hart, discarded by Guardiola because he did not rate his footballing skills, will have cracked a smile at his old club’s struggles.
“Joe will have been having a right little giggle to himself watching City,” said Seaman. “As much as he loved City, when somebody says that you are no longer required at the club, that’s a massive blow.
“I was told I wasn’t good enough by Leeds as a youngster. It was a long time ago but it is the same thing. Somebody is saying about your talent, ‘I don’t want that’.”
England manager Gareth Southgate is set to name Hart in his team for the World Cup qualifier against Scotland in Glasgow on Saturday and insists his man is good enough with the ball on the floor for his country.
But Hart has had a mixed time in Italy, letting in 58 goals in 36 games and collecting only five clean sheets, with Torino president Urbano Cairo admitting he had not expected him to make so many mistakes.
City are ready to cut their £20m asking price for Hart, 30, with his £130,000-a-week wages also a stumbling block to any potential move. West Ham and Everton have shown an interest, along with Serie A’s Roma and AC Milan – but there have been no concrete offers.
Seaman, right, who won 75 caps and played in two World Cups, feels it is time for Hart to come home. “If I was Joe, I would want to come back,” he said. “With the quality Joe has got, he should be in the Premier League.
“People will have seen those mistakes he made at Torino but Joe reacts really well after making big mistakes, which is exactly what I look for in a keeper.
“Even after the Euros last summer, he came back and performed really well.” Hart has Jack Butland, Fraser Forster and Jordan Pickford breathing down his neck with England, but Seaman says the 70-cap keeper still has the experience to be worth his place, adding: “Joe has all these guys coming up but they have done their stuff at clubs like Sunderland or West Brom. That’s not the same as playing at City, Arsenal, United or Chelsea.” DAVID SEAMAN was talking at the launch of Spotto Cash, the spot-the-ball game for the digital generation. Visit spottocash.com for more.