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Former Manchester City assistant manager David Platt has revealed that there were plans in place to see England goalkeeper Joe hart replaced by Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic if Roberto Mancini has remained in charge this summer according to the Daily Mail.
Platt, who followed Mancini out of the club after the Italian was sacked following a second-place Premier League finish, was quoted as telling Al Jazeera: ‘If Mancini and I were still at Man City this year Joe Hart wouldn’t be there. We made a decision to sign Asmir Begovic.’
The former Shrewsbury Town keeper came under increasing pressure for some of his performances for the Citizens last term as Maninci’s side failed to retain to the Premier League title, departed the Champions League in the group stage and then lost to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final.
Platt’s remarks came to light after Hart put in another wayward display in Manuel Pellegrini’s first defeat as City boss at Cardiff City yesterday.
The shot-stopper was at fault for two goals as the Bluebirds shocked the former Premier League champions in a 3-2 victory while Hart was also to blame for Scotland’s first goal in England’s recent friendly win, allowing James Morrison’s shot to go under him.
While Stoke’s Bosnian international has proved himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League since making the switch to the Britannia Stadium in 2010. The £15m-valued keeper kept an impressive 12 clean sheets in the league last season and has been linked with both Manchester United and Arsenal this summer.