Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has stated that top-rated goalkeeper, Joe Hart, can leave the club if he wants.
It is understood Guardiola and Hart, who knows he has no future at the club, have not built up any kind of relationship.
Hart has made nearly 350 appearances for City in all competitions since joining them from Shrewsbury in 2006.
Guardiola said: “If he stays he will improve. He understands what we want from our goalkeeper.
“I spoke with Joe from the first moment we met in China. I try to be clear with my players and I was clear with him. I have a lot of respect for him.
“Maybe Joe will stay here and be a player who will fight with the other goalkeepers to convince me to play him. That is the way it is – nothing has changed.”
Guardiola said he knew Hart’s “value” and “talent”, but that he had come to City to “play the way I like”.
“The first thing I am looking for from the goalkeeper is to save,” said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach.
“After that he has to be able to play with the ball. He has to be help us to create a good build-up. That is why I am here.”
The 45-year-old added: “We are not an academy with time. Here we have time – but not too much.
“The big teams don’t give me time to create something. People want results immediately.”