Joe Hart set for Manchester City offer over emotional Etihad Stadium return

Manchester City are reportedly set to offer Joe Hart the chance to make an emotional return to the Etihad Stadium in the coming weeks and months ahead.

The news of a potential return to the reigning Premier League champions, and a club where Joe Hart won two English top-flight titles, comes after the former England international confirmed his retirement from the game earlier this month.

Following an exemplary career that has seen Joe Hart progress from his boyhood club Shrewsbury Town, through the divisions in English football and all the way to Manchester City, whilst spending time on loan in Italy along the way, Celtic will be his final club.

However, despite the manner in which Joe Hart left the club remaining somewhat cloudy, with the common consensus being that he simply did not suit the style of play desired by manager Pep Guardiola, his time at Manchester City may not be over just yet.

That is according to the information of the Daily Record, who report that Manchester City are set to offer Joe Hart the opportunity to make an emotional return to the Etihad Stadium, in a proposal that will likely be for a non-footballing position or ambassadorial role.

That is due to Hart reportedly remaining against the idea of a coaching role, although Manchester City are ready to hold talks regardless, with the 37-year-old still to decide what direction he will go when he retires.

With regards to a coaching position in the goalkeeping industry, the report also points out that Joe Hart has still to do any coaches badges, and has hinted that is unlikely to be his future career path.

Across the space of 10 seasons with the football club, Joe Hart recorded an outstanding 348 appearances across all competitions, winning 192 of those matches and claiming two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and League Cup along the way.

Hart first joined Manchester City back in 2006, with the north-west club paying an initial £100,000 for the goalkeeper, in a fee that would rise to £1.5 million if undisclosed clauses were achieved during his time with them.

Elsewhere on the goalkeeping front and Manchester City are likely to face a battle to retain the services of Stefan Ortega Moreno this summer, with the German shot-stopper attracting widespread interest from across the game and seeing his contract expire in 2025.