A day that many may have never thought would come finally came this week, Joe Hart's ten year stay in Manchester is at an end as England's number one heads to Italy in search of first team football after being left out of Pep Guardiola's plans.
A year ago it would have been absurd to bench Joe Hart, let alone leave him out of the squad all together. Having been one of City's longest and perhaps most passionate servant in this era it's understandable that some are getting misty eyed over this news.
Hart's City Career
Joining City at the tender age of 19 in 2006 from Shrewsbury Town, Hart was third choice keeper behind Andreas Isaksson and Nicky Weaver. Hart's debut came in October 2006 when both Isaksson and Weaver were injured, keeping a clean sheet in a goalless game against Sheffield United.
This was followed by loan spells at Tranmere Rovers, Blackpool and Birmingham City before establishing himself as the number one keeper in the 2010/11 season under Roberto Mancini.
Hart would go on to make a fantastic haul of silverware, both personally and with team awards including; two Premier League winners medals, an FA Cup, two League Cups and four Golden Gloves as well as two inclusions in the PFA Team of the Year.
Joe's Italian Job
Having joined Torino, Hart becomes the first English goalkeeper to play in Serie A since it's inception in 1929. Perhaps the most heart- wrenching part of this transfer was the goodbye message he left on his Instagram page.
Thanking the fans for their relentless support throughout his tenure at City, Joe said that the "feelings he felt" during the recent game against Bucharest would "live with him forever." He went on to thank fans for all the "amazing memories."
The most important task now is for fans to now welcome Joe's replacement, Claudio Bravo, and show him the respect and trust he deserves.
There will be portions of fans who resent Guardiola for this decision but he must be trusted to make the tough decisions if City are to progress to the next level both in England and Europe.