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Torino hopeful of keeping Manchester City's Joe Hart permanently

Torino's sporting director Gianluca Petrachi believes that Joe Hart would like to stay with the Serie A club when his season-long loan deal ends in the summer.

Hart moved to the Granata in the summer after seeing his opportunities become limited at Manchester City following the arrival of Pep Guardiola as their new manager. His move may have raised a few eyebrows, but he has settled in well in his new surroundings and is a firm fans' favourite.

In fact, Petrachi believes he is so much at home that he would like to remain in Turin permanently.

"We'll talk about it further down the line, but he's enthusiastic," Petrachi told Radio Sportiva. "He's really happy with the quality of life in Turin and he wants to stay here. It's premature to talk about it now, though, because there are other steps to take first.

"He's a goalkeeper who still has room for improvement and we are counting on him."

Hart, who told Sky Sports why he chose Torino in the summer, revealed how he had discussed the move with a trio of trusted friends who were in a position to advise him.

Micah Richards spent time with Fiorentina, Patrick Vieira had played with Juventus and Aleksandar Kolarov had played under Torino coach Sinisa Mihajlovic for the Serbia national team.

"I spoke with Micah, who had played in Serie A, and he told me 'you'll like it'," Hart said. "Then I spoke with Vieira, who knew the city and spoke highly of it. Kolarov had already worked under Mihajlovic so I also spoke to him.

"Everybody calls the coach 'Mister' here. I liked the spontaneity with which he spoke to me and told me that if I wanted to join them, I was welcome. I love football and I told him I was desperate to play."

Hart has been an ever-present since joining Torino, conceding 13 goals in 12 games. Torino are just eight points off the Serie A summit with seven wins and four draws in 14 games, while they are just four points adrift of the top three and Champions League football next season.

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