Joe Hart says ‘Nuno said whatever happens I would not kick a ball for him’ as Celtic keeper opens up on Tottenham snub
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JOE HART was told he'd never kick a ball for Nuno Espirito Santo before he left Tottenham for Celtic this summer.
The former England stopper opened up on his 'sad' Spurs departure and recalled the ONLY conversation he had with Nuno before he left.
Hart turned down other offers to join Celtic at the beginning of August.
The 34-year-old signed a three-year deal at believed to be worth £15,000-a-week.
Man City icon Hart spent last season as backup for Hugo Lloris but, with a year still left on his contract, revealed he was not ready to leave the North Londoners.
Hart spoke to ex-City team-mate Micah Richards for the and said: "At the end of the season, I thought: ‘OK, one more year at Tottenham.’
"I was then going to start to think about winding down. I like to commit, I like to wear the badge properly for the team I represent.
"And then, two or three weeks into pre-season, I was told: ‘No matter what happens, you will not kick a ball for Tottenham.’"
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Richards was stunned and exclaimed: "Really?!"
Hart replied: "Yep. That’s what Nuno wanted.
"I never really had a conversation with him and the one conversation that we did have was that one.
"Look, maybe Tottenham needed a clear out and maybe they had to be firm.
"But I alluded to this earlier. I was thinking to myself: 'What am I doing here? I’m fit, strong, ready, committed.'
"But I spoke to my wife and I told her that I would sooner play 30 charity games and give something back with what I am trying to do.
"I’d sooner make myself available for my local park team, who are trying to raise a bit of money, and give my all than do this."
Celtic paid £1million for the former West Ham, Torino and Burnley man.
He only made 10 Spurs appearances in all competitions but admitted it was still tough to leave.
He added: "I am not looking for sympathy. If a manager doesn’t want me, he doesn’t want me.
"This isn’t a piece about ‘Poor Joe Hart’. But I really felt that way. I was sad.
"I needed a few days to get my head together. I loved being at Tottenham, there are some really good people."
Hart made 75 appearances as England's No1 keeper but has not featured for the national team since 2017.
He was also ousted by Man City boss Pep Guardiola in 2016 and was farmed out on loan to Serie A side Torino.
Following a poor spell in Italy, Hart then had another loan spell, this time back in England with West Ham.
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After one season in East London, he joined Burnley on a permanent transfer and spent two years with the club before being released.
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That led to Hart looking for a new team, with Spurs eventually coming in for him as a cover for Hugo Lloris.
Hart has already dropped a clanger for Celtic when he gifted AZ Alkmaar a Europa League lifeline earlier this week.
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