Joe Hart has admitted it was "easy" to leave Manchester City when it was made clear to him that he would not be a big part of Pep Guardiola's plans.
Speaking at his official unveiling at Serie A side Torino - whom he has joined on a season-long loan - the England international revealed it was the temptation of playing abroad which made him choose to move to Turin. Hart had offers from the likes of Everton and Sunderland in England, but he chose to make the move away from his homeland.
Joe Hart's Torino press conference, there pic.twitter.com/npXMjmZJOj
Hart spoke in Italian at a respectable length in front of the press after merely two weeks of language lessons, but according to the Mail, said on his decision to leave City: "I am not thinking too long term about my future. I had a very public situation at Manchester City, which was awkward. I love to play football and it looked like my options were limited.
"People say it's a smaller club but it is a club with great history in a great league and they gave me an opportunity for the regular football that I desire. It was an easy decision for me. Here I am and I am very proud to make the move."
Hart revealed Guardiola had laid all his cards on the table, and had confirmed that Hart's place in the City goal would be no more well ahead of time, adding: "I am living in the moment and the foreseeable future is Torino. That is where all my efforts are.
"I think the situation was obvious to everyone and he was open with me. There was a situation where it looked like my chances of playing time were limited so I had to look elsewhere. It is a difficult one but you have to be man enough to take it when not everyone it going to love you and maybe that was the situation. I had to look elsewhere.
"Football is football. It is based on decisions and opinions. This opinion has resulted in me looking for a new club and that is my focus.
"Playing regular football is the most important thing. I always look forward to playing on a weekend and so playing in itself was the most important. But I have in mind that I love playing for my country and that was important.
"My options were limited at my previous club so I am very grateful to be here."
Sevilla were also linked with Hart, but he stated that the swing of Serie A - a league he'd watched as a boy - was too much to resist: "I wanted an experience outside of England and this worked. I was made to feel wanted. The president made me very welcome. It was a chance to learn something new in a league I grew up watching with a great goalkeeping tradition.
"We all remember watching Italian football on Channel 4 as kids. I didn't have Sky so I remember watching this, learning about the Italian league. Now I am here I am very much looking forward to it."
WATCH: Joe Hart ready to embrace culture at @TorinoFC_1906 after loan move from @ManCity: https://t.co/D9gMDaabqZ https://t.co/aeEecLczhm
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