Manchester City goalie Claudio Bravo rejected Barcelona stay for Etihad switch because he didn’t want to be benched
Chilean has made a flying start to life under Pep Guardiola but lost out to Marc-Andre ter Stegen in race to be Nou Camp No 1
CLAUDIO BRAVO admits he leaped at the chance to join Manchester City because he ‘did not want to sit on the bench’ at Barcelona.
The Chilean has made a steady start to life at the Etihad following his £17million summer move, conceding just once in three matches and keeping clean sheets in his last two.
Bravo’s arrival forced long-serving Joe Hart out of the club, but his ball-playing skills are already paying dividends.
City are now clear favourites to win the title after storming to victory in their opening five fixtures, and Bravo is set to play a key role in any success this season.
But things could have turned out very differently had the 33-year-old remained at the Nou Camp.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen was promoted to first-choice after spending the last two years as the club’s Champions League goalie, with Bravo looking at more time on the bench.
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Luis Enrique’s decision prompted the ex-Real Sociedad ace to re-evaluate his options, and Bravo didn’t have to think twice when Pep Guardiola came knocking with the promise of regular action.
Bravo said: “It was not me that was [first] at Barca, it was Ter Stegen. I was very sincere, I did not want to sit on the bench. It’s not my thing. And they understood.
“In Barcelona I always devoted myself to doing my best, I always felt the support.”
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