Barcelona "fought for" goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to stay at club

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 03 September 2016

Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez reveals that the club wanted Claudio Bravo to stay at the club rather than join Manchester City.

Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez has claimed that the club were keen for Claudio Bravo to stay, but the goalkeeper opted to join Manchester City instead.

The Chile international signed for the two-time Premier League champions last month to play under manager Pep Guardiola, despite being a regular for the Catalan giants.

Bravo was first choice in La Liga, but head coach Luis Enrique opted to play Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the Champions League.

After Joe Hart was dislodged from the number-one spot at City, Bravo is now likely to be used by Guardiola in the club's European campaign.

"Bravo has helped Ter Stegen get better," Fernandez told RAC1. "He had an offer and although we fought for him to stay, he wanted to leave and we had to negotiate. He is a player who had two years of his contract left.

"Nobody told Bravo he'd be second choice. We wanted to renew his contract, but he had other projects in mind.

"Barcelona signed [Jasper] Cillessen as a response to that, and because Luis Enrique wanted three keepers, a squad choice that for him comes down to personal preference."

Meanwhile, Hart has moved to Torino on a season-long loan.