Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson believes Joe Hart has no reason to complain over his treatment at Manchester City this summer.

The England number 1 played his first game of the season under Pep Guardiola against Steaua Bucharest last night, and it has been suggested that it could be his last in Manchester City colours.




The goalkeeper has found himself down the pecking order behind Willy Caballero this season, and with Claudio Bravo arriving, Hart is expected to leave the club by deadline day next Wednesday.

Many feel the 29-year-old didn’t get the respect he deserved from Guardiola, but Lawrenson feels the new Manchester City boss couldn’t have done anything more to make the situation clear for Hart.
 


The former defender believes Manchester City and the Spaniard have done everything necessary to make sure that Hart is clear about his position at the club, and has given him the opportunity to leave with his head held high.  

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On whether Guardiola has treated Hart properly, Lawrenson said on BBC Radio 5 live: “Yes, there is no argument whatsoever.

“He could have said absolutely nothing to anybody, but he just said to Joe Hart, you won’t play, you will arguably be the number three after Bravo and Caballero.

"He has given him the opportunity to go ahead and play some football somewhere else.

“I don’t think as a player you can ask for more.

"He is extremely disappointed as he has been number one for Manchester City for years and years. Who knows, it may work out for Joe Hart really well, I would think quite a few clubs would want to take him.

“The way City have behaved with Hart is really good, and they probably said to the agent that he can go out on loan and these are the terms or he can go on a permanent transfer and this is the amount of money we want.

“From that point of view Joe Hart can’t moan but it does represent somewhat of a gamble for Guardiola, in terms of Claudio Bravo.”

Hart is expected to leave Manchester City on loan in the final week of the window, with Everton and Sevilla interested in snapping him up.