Claudio Bravo to Manchester City: Latest Transfer Details, Comments and Reaction

Manchester City announced Thursday that they have completed the signing of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from Barcelona.  

Bravo spoke on his move to Manchester in the club release:

"

I have followed City’s progress in recent years and obviously know some of my new team-mates from the Copa America.

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.

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

"

The move ends two memorable years at the Camp Nou for the stopper. Bravo signed for the Blaugrana in the summer of 2014 and helped the team win two La Liga titles in succession. 

Here is a look at what City can expect from their new stopper:

While he’s 33 years old, Bravo has never been in better form in his career. Indeed, as well as enjoying success on the domestic front, his Chile side won back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, and Bravo cemented his status as one of the world’s top goalkeepers.

It’s easy to see why Guardiola has bought Bravo. The coach wants all members of his squad to be calm on the ball and distribute passes effectively; it’s a trait that left long-term No. 1 Joe Hart on the periphery of the squad.

Guardiola commented on his new signing as part of the announcement:

"

Claudio is a fantastic goalkeeper and an excellent addition to our squad.

He has experience and great leadership qualities and is in the prime of his life. He is a goalkeeper I have admired for a number of years and I’m really happy he is now a City player.

"

Sky Sports' Monday Night Football compared Hart’s influence with the kind of role Manuel Neuer played for Guardiola at Bayern Munich; it's a duty the former Barcelona stopper will be tasked with replicating:

Bravo, during his time with Barcelona and Chile, has proved he’s superb with the ball at his feet. He's able to make swift decisions and accurate passes out to the flanks.

While there’s been a lot of discussion about how capable Bravo is on the ball, there are plenty of other positive aspects to his game. The former Real Sociedad man is sharp off his line, commanding in taking crosses and assured in his decision-making.

YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/Getty Images

He does the basics of goalkeeping well too. These numbers from WhoScored.com show just how good a shot-stopper he is:

For City, he’ll make a major difference. Guardiola will want to see his team push high up the pitch, and Bravo’s vigilance in sweeping up at the base of the team will aid in preventing counter-attacks. Having kept himself in excellent shape throughout his career, he’s someone who still has a lot of years left at the top too.

The signing casts further doubt over Hart’s future at the club. He's been a key part of the most successful spell in City’s history, and it’d be disappointing for many tied to City to see the Englishman leave. Guardiola has wasted little time stamping his authority on the squad at the Etihad Stadium, though.