Former Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton has been settling into life in Glasgow having made the switch to Rangers during the summer, but he has been left disgusted by the actions of his former club in their handling of Joe Hart.
The England keeper has been dropped by new manager Pep Guardiola despite being fit and ready to start the season, making for a miserable few months for Hart having had such a poor Euro 2016 with his national side.
Willy Caballero has been chosen to step up while the club attempt to bring in a goalkeeper more suited to Guardiola's system, with Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo expected to sign before the transfer window closes, and Barton thinks that a player who has given as much to the club has Hart deserves more respect.
Speaking to Talksport, Barton claimed that the Man City he once played for no longer exists as they would never have treated a loyal servant as badly as they are now treating Hart in his opinion.
It is not the club I left.
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?
Considering the public outrage that Jose Mourinho's decision on Bastian Schweinsteiger, a player who has essentially played half a season at the club, saw with headlines such as "humiliation" used, it seems strange that there is not the same uproar for Hart.
Clearly his poor performances in France have seen the English media turn on him somewhat, as the coverage has been more focused on how Hart lost the job rather than the "humiliation" that Pep has caused him, but Barton is on the goalkeeper's side, and he believes that playing Willy Caballero in the meantime makes no sense at all.
I've watched Caballero and are you telling me Caballero is better with his feet than Joe Hart? I haven't seen it.
Why not let him fight for his place and then if he is not good enough say: 'I have given him an opportunity'. That's what every manager should do, give everyone an opportunity.
It does seem sudden, the decision to abandon Hart without having brought a replacement in before the season started, but it is Pep's team now, and if he feels that Hart can't do the job, it is his job to make that call.
The most likely outcome for Hart now is a season long loan as he has been given rather short notice to determine his permanent future.
