BARCELONA GAVE CLAUDIO Bravo permission to miss training today after yesterday confirming “the beginning of an agreement” with Manchester City over his transfer.
Following Barca’s 6-2 thrashing of Real Betis, sporting director Robert Fernandez revealed a deal to see Bravo swap Camp Nou for the Etihad Stadium was on the way.
The move appears to have taken another step forward with the goalkeeper not present for a training session with his team-mates.
Barca’s official Twitter posted: “Claudio Bravo misses training with the permission of the club. Six players from Barca B join the session.”
The Chile international had been heavily linked with a switch to City after Pep Guardiola left Joe Hart out of his starting XI for their Premier League opener against Sunderland on August 13.
Guardiola again opted for Willy Caballero as his first-choice keeper for Saturday’s 4-1 win over Stoke City, having said during the week that Hart could leave if he so wished.
Barca have subsequently taken an interest in Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen, though Robert said they would wait to make any moves until Bravo’s future was clarified.
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Hart must have laughed to himself yesterday as willy kept launching the ball over the sideline and into the stand. City clearly want to push him out and seems a bit harsh. Not the greatest of keepers but he has won city some vital points over the years. Bravo was shocking against betis last night
Hart is arrogant and average.
Being a City fan, I think Hart has been great for City. Yes he has made 1 or 2 mistakes over the years, but much less than most keepers, and I don’t really care what he has done with England. He has put in some incredible displays, particularly in the Champions League, with Barca a couple of years ago being the standout. However, as Jamie Carragher has pointed out, Hart has known that Guardiola was coming for a year or more. He knew what he expects from his goalkeeper, and yet has done nothing in all this time to improve his footwork.
Not a good advertisement for Bravo there….other way lad