Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina is confident “top class” Joe Hart will do well at Torino and in Serie A. “It’s more tactical and less physical here.”
The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich man has experienced the sport in most top leagues, so he can give new arrival Hart advice.
“I have played against Hart and I know what a good goalkeeper he is. No one should question his ability,” Reina told Joe.co.uk.
Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina is confident “top class” Joe Hart will do well at Torino and in Serie A. “It’s more tactical and less physical here.”
The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich man has experienced the sport in most top leagues, so he can give new arrival Hart advice.
“I have played against Hart and I know what a good goalkeeper he is. No one should question his ability,” Reina told Joe.co.uk.
“He has won big trophies with City and been a big part of their success. But almost every player knows that there will be times when clubs change manager and go in a different direction and you have to accept that and move on.
“That is what Hart has done and he should be respected for that but no one should be thinking he is a lesser player because of that.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola complained that Hart was not good enough with his feet, but Reina sympathises.
“The game has changed so much for keepers because a lot of managers now expect us to be able to start play from the back as well as keep goals out.
“I don't think we should be called goalkeepers anymore because we are more like goal players. That is more the case if you are in a Guardiola team than if you are in any other and that's why he felt signing Claudio Bravo from Barcelona was so important to the way he wants City to play.
"I have seen people say that Hart isn't good with his feet but that isn't true. In terms of the speed and precision of his passes he is very good.
“The difference is that Bravo has been a goal player for many years and does not have to learn Guardiola's methods and that is why Hart was replaced. But he remains a top class keeper. There is no question about that.”
Reina has settled down at Napoli and gives Hart advice on what to expect from Serie A.
“It is more tactical and less physical here. If you go for a high ball under pressure and don't claim it there's a strong possibility that you will be given a free kick because the ‘keepers get much more protection here than they do in England.
“Every team plays its own way but I would say that after Napoli, last season Torino were one of the teams who play shortest; they liked to play from the back and that means the keeper has to be involved.
“But they have changed managers with Sinisa Mihajlovic replacing Giampiero Ventura so maybe their style will become a little bit different.
“But however they play I wouldn't expect Hart to have too many problems because he has played at the top level for so long.”