Joe Hart to Torino: Latest Loan Details, Comments and Reaction

Joe Hart has completed his loan move from Manchester City to Torino, bringing an end to one of the oddest transfer sagas of the summer.

City confirmed Hart's departure:

The move was met with mixed reaction from former England international Michael Owen, Squawka's Amar Singh and former Manchester City star Trevor Sinclair, per BBC 5 live Sport:

Bleacher Report's Adam Digby shared this video of the incredible reception the Torino fans gave the England No. 1 and a glimpse of Hart putting pen to paper on the deal:

Hart’s decision to move was triggered by new manager Pep Guardiola, who opted for Willy Caballero in goal early in the campaign instead of the longstanding No. 1. The capture of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona cast even more doubt over the status of the England stopper.

The goalkeeper has endured a tough few months, having struggled towards the back end of the season for City and for England this summer at the UEFA European Championship. These numbers from Squawka Football suggest he’s not been in top form for a while:

Despite his recent issues, though, Hart has proved himself to be a top-class goalkeeper many times at the Etihad Stadium and at Wembley.

In terms of shot-stopping, there arguably isn’t anyone better in the Premier League. The 29-year-old is agile and sharp off his line to cut out danger. Additionally, he’s been a vocal presence at the back for City and the kind of intense character who helps forge a winning mentality in a squad. He was also a member of the club's two Premier League-winning teams.

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As we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, Hart is commanding when it comes to dealing with crosses into the box as well:

Torino will be hoping to bring the best out of a player who is world-class on his day. The Granata lost star defender Kamil Glik to AS Monaco over the summer, and the capture of Hart will help a defence that has already conceded four goals in two Serie A matches this year.

The move to the Italian peninsula will help Hart escape some of the pressure he was forced to deal with in England, and given the low expectations surrounding this Torino side, he'll have every opportunity to stand out.

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Indeed, while Guardiola evidently wants a goalkeeper who is confident on the ball and able to distribute with precision, there’s unlikely to be as much emphasis on those aspects of the game in Italy. Hart will be allowed to focus on doing what he does best, and that should allow him to rekindle his best form.

And with several clubs in Italy, including Napoli, short on quality goalkeepers, a strong run with the Granata could lead to a top transfer next summer.