Last summer, Manchester City’s most shocking transfer wasn’t the £50 million move for John Stones or the £37 million signing of promising winger Leroy Sané. It was the sudden exile of Joe Hart—once the rock at the heart of City’s defense and England’s undisputed number-one goalkeeper. After a shaky showing at the Euros, Hart found himself on the receiving end of relentless criticism from the British media. Old blunders were replayed across screens, overshadowing his heroic saves against Barcelona that nearly kept City’s Champions League hopes alive.

But under Pep Guardiola, who prioritizes technical footwork in his keepers, Hart’s time at the Etihad was always going to be numbered. With the arrival of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona, Hart was quickly shown the door. His next chapter unfolded at Torino in Serie A. Though he never officially closed the door on Manchester, both Guardiola’s decisions and Hart’s own words made it clear—his City career was effectively over.

Still, Bravo’s performances raised more questions than answers. Was he truly an upgrade over Hart, who had won two Premier League Golden Gloves and often remained a calm presence between the posts? Many fans weren’t convinced. The real weakness for City last season, however, was their defensive line—an area that constantly came under fire. Eliaquim Mangala and Martín Demichelis were frequent scapegoats. After a string of disastrous performances, Mangala was frozen out following Guardiola’s arrival.

Ironically, his loan move to Valencia seemed to spark a revival. Mangala rediscovered his form in La Liga, prompting speculation that he could earn a second chance in Manchester. But a clause in the loan deal gives Valencia the option to purchase him outright for £15 million. Early reports suggest that both the club and the player may be open to a permanent transfer. With Valencia’s ongoing struggles, securing Mangala at a reasonable fee could be a rare bright spot in their season.

Meanwhile, Juan Cuadrado’s journey has taken its own turns. Since joining Chelsea in February 2015, the Colombian winger spent only half a season at Stamford Bridge before being loaned to Juventus for €1.5 million. While the Italian giants hoped to keep him permanently after his solid performances, Antonio Conte briefly considered keeping Cuadrado in his rotation plans for the wing. In the end, Juventus won out. Though not always a starter, Cuadrado has made 28 appearances this season—16 of them starts—contributing 2 goals and 5 assists so far.

For those tracking transfers, performances, and career rebounds, Crickex Login offers detailed updates and match insights. Whether it’s analyzing Mangala’s resurgence or Hart’s journey from Premier League to Serie A, Crickex Login keeps fans informed with real-time content. As City looks to rebuild under Guardiola, many questions remain—but for now, only time will tell if these bold decisions pay off.