Barry Ferguson has shared that Joe Hart ‘couldn’t believe’ the size of Celtic when he first joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur.
During Joe Hart’s career, he has played for some of England’s best and competed right at the top of the Premier League table.
The 36-year-old enjoyed his best spell in the colours of Manchester City, winning two Premier League titles, so he has been under the pressure cooker.
But according to Barry Ferguson, it was the might and power of Celtic that took him aback when he first moved to the club from Spurs in 2021, as he told Go Radio.
It needs to be noted that Joe Hart was in decline for a few years and many were questioning what he had left in his tank.
But Celtic brought him to life, including the 75-cap England International winning the Treble under Ange Postecoglou last season.
Joe Hart at Celtic
“I said it, I played with Joe at Birmingham for a full season, and then when he was linked and Postecoglou finally signed him,” said Ferguson
“(They were saying) ‘Oh, I don’t know if he’s finished’. I tell you a number of things about Joe. Massive character. Infectious around the dressing room. A leader. He isn’t scared to voice his opinion. The big thing I noticed with him is, if he made a mistake, which he has done this season with Celtic and even the season before, when he has made a mistake, it doesn’t affect him.
“A lot of people would crumble and it would affect them for the rest of the game. When he makes a mistake he is pretty calm about it. He understands the situation and gets on with it.
“I spoke to him when I was at Alloa and he was loving it. You know what it’s like when you go down to England. They are always asking ‘what are the Celtic and Rangers games like’. They are huge. ‘Right, good one’. This and that. Until they actually come up, that’s what Joe said. He couldn’t believe the size of Celtic. People don’t understand when they are down in England. I think he is a top goalkeeper, I do.”
Joe Hart’s future at Celtic
It’s going to be interesting to see what Brendan Rodgers does with Hart and the goalkeeping situation because somebody needs to come in – the Englishman spoke about his future.
Hart’s contract runs out next summer and, at this current moment, there isn’t an obvious player to replace him for the long-term.
If possible, it would be wise for Celtic to bring someone in during the January transfer window, and let them settle in, before they take the number one jersey for next season.
Whilst Hart has been a great servant for the club, you would imagine that he is going to be replaced sooner rather than later.
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