Joey Barton slams "disgusting" treatment of Manchester City keeper Joe Hart

Joe Hart barks orders during the Champions League quarter-final between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain on April 12, 2016
© Getty Images
Rangers midfielder Joey Barton accuses Manchester City of treating out-of-favour goalkeeper Joe Hart in a "disgusting" manner.

Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has described the apparent exile of Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart as "disgusting".

The England number one has been left on the bench in Pep Guardiola's first two games as City manager, instead promoting Wilfredo Caballero to first choice.

There have been reports that the two-time Premier League champions are working on a deal to sign Barcelona shot-stopper Claudio Bravo, which has poured Hart's future into further doubt.

Barton, who spent five years in City's first team after coming through the youth ranks, believes that Hart should be treated better given his loyalty to the club.

"It is not the club I left," Barton told talkSPORT. "The club I left and watch now are two totally different organisations. The club I played for wouldn't have treated a player that had been a servant for as long as Joe has in the manner that it has. It is disgusting.

"He is a full international, somebody who, probably before City took the money, could have gone on to bigger and better things himself but stayed and wanted to be at City.

"I don't see what he has done wrong to be treated the way he has. His attitude isn't terrible. I don't like this. It is common human decency, regardless of how good a coach you are. Why treat him like that?"

Reports have claimed that Everton and Liverpool are considering moves for Hart before the end of the month.

Joe Hart of Manchester City celebrates his team's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on August 16, 2015
Read Next:
Liverpool to move for Joe Hart?
>

CountryGoldGSilverSBronzeBTotal
1 United StatesUnited States463738121
2 Great BritainGreat Britain27231767
3 ChinaChina26182670
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City22006246
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd22005146
3Hull City22004136
4Chelsea22004226
5Everton21103214
6Middlesbrough21103214
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs21102114
8Burnley21012113
9West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom21012203
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham21012203
11Liverpool210145-13
12Swansea CitySwansea210112-13
13Arsenal201134-11
14Watford201123-11
15Leicester CityLeicester201112-11
16Southampton201113-21
17Stoke CityStoke201125-31
18Sunderland200224-20
19Crystal Palace200202-20
20Bournemouth200214-30