BraveHart.
That is what Tuttosport have gone for on Thursday when talking about England’s, and now Torino’s, hero of the week, the man who saved England from what would have been a rather embarrassing defeat at the hands of Slovenia.
You see, not only does Joe Hart playing well benefit his country when they play as blandly as they did on Tuesday night, but it also helps the Serie A club regain the recognition they lost after years of yo-yoing between the first and second tiers of Italian football.
Things have stabilised a bit (a top 10 finish in three of their last four seasons), but the acquisition of Hart really put them on the map, and the performances of their players on the international scene adds to that.
The England goalkeeper wasn’t the only one to shine, as Andrea Belotti got his first ever goal for Italy in a 3-2 win over Macedonia, while 22-year-old midfielder Marco Benassi got his second call-up to the national team, albeit without making an appearance.
But it’s this youth, and ability to still attract players of Joe Hart’s quality that gives Torino, club and fans alike, reason to believe this side can build, and eventually regain similar heights to those reached in the early 90s, when they won the Coppa Italia and reached the Europa League (then UEFA Cup) final.
They’re aware winning the league might be a bit premature right now, but there’s a feeling Torino could certainly be on their way back, and Joe Hart is helping all of that.
A far cry from his treatment at Manchester City, isn’t it?
