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Rediff.com  » Sports » City sign goalkeeper from Barcelona; Everton have no interest in Hart

City sign goalkeeper from Barcelona; Everton have no interest in Hart

August 25, 2016 20:24 IST
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 Claudio Bravo

IMAGE: Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo gestures. Photographs: Julian Finney/Getty Images.

Manchester City have signed Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from Barcelona on a four-year contract for an initial 18 million euros (15.37 million pounds), the clubs confirmed on Thursday.

The 33-year-old moved to Barcelona from Real Sociedad in 2014 and enjoyed great success, winning the Spanish title in 2015 and 2016 and the Champions League in 2015.

"It is not easy to leave a club like Barcelona where I had two fantastic years, but the opportunity to work with Pep Guardiola was too good to refuse," Bravo told City's website.

"Now I will challenge the other great goalkeepers the club has and together I hope we can win many trophies."

Bravo, who has 106 caps for Chile, could make his City debut at home against West Ham United on Sunday, with his arrival likely to push England's Joe Hart closer to the exit door at the Etihad Stadium.

Everton have no interest in City goalkeeper Hart, says Koeman

Joe Hart

IMAGE: Manchester City's goalkeeper Joe Hart. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters .

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has dismissed reports suggesting that Manchester City's Joe Hart was nearing a move to Goodison Park, saying his club had never registered an interest in the England goalkeeper.

Hart made his first start of the season for City in Wednesday's dead rubber Champions League win over Steaua Bucharest with City manager Pep Guardiola preferring Willy Caballero.

The arrival of Chilean keeper Claudio Bravo from Barcelona will push Hart further down the pecking order and is will probably signal the end of the 29-year-old's 10-year stay at City.

"No. Everybody is trying to improve. But I am not the type of manager to talk about players. Everybody will see what the squad is on August 31," Koeman told reporters when asked if there was every any interest in Hart.

"There is no interest (in Hart). We have a game at Stoke on Saturday and that is more important than all the rumours. I need to prepare the team for Saturday."

Koeman said this month that his squad were only 70 per cent fit after returning from a long holiday, and the Dutchman was still not entirely satisfied with the fitness levels of his players.

"We are improving. We are close to 100 per cent but I think some players did not get game time in pre-season. Maybe they need one or two weeks more to get everybody on the highest level," the former Southampton manager added.

Everton host Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday.

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Source: REUTERS
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