LONDON: England goalkeeper Joe Hart is without a club for the first time in his professional career but he believes he still has lots to offer and will find a perfect match soon.
English Premier League side Burnley will not extend the contract of Hart beyond the end of this month, it had said. "The fact I have had to sit on the bench for 18 months in the Premier League is not going to define or crush me," Hart, 33, told BBC Sport in an interview. "I remember who I am. I remember playing for my local Sunday league team and trying to get into the Shrewsbury Town first team. I learned early - you need to keep things in perspective.
"You can have great things said about you in football, but you have to be strong on self-criticism, analyse what you are doing and be comfortable with it," said the former Manchester City 'keeper.
"Maybe from the outside, people are thinking it is a time for panic, but from the inside it is a time to look forward and see all the opportunities.
"I am young when it comes to goalkeeping. I am even younger when it comes to the mental age of a guy who just wants to go in goal and have people whack balls at him."
"I am under no illusions that Real Madrid are going to knock my door down, get (Thibaut) Courtois out and bring me in. But there is plenty more to come from me," he added.
"I just need someone to believe in me and I will repay that faith."
Hart joined Burnley from Manchester City in 2018 but has failed to find a first team start in recent times.
Hart had recently conceded being dropped as No.1 custodian at Manchester City by then new manager Pep Guardiola was the lowest point of his football career. IANS