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Man City target Claudio Bravo will play in Barcelona La Liga opener, reveals club chief

Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will play in the club's La Liga opener against Real Betis on Saturday despite his imminent transfer to Manchester City, the Spanish club's sporting director has revealed.

City have lined up a £17million deal for Bravo with the Chile international ready to sign a four-year contract at the Etihad and push England No 1 Joe Hart closer to the exit.

The Spanish champions are determined to sell Bravo rather than 24-year-old Marc Andre ter Stegen, who was recently ruled out for three weeks with a medial knee ligament strain.

Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo helped the European giants win the Spanish Super Cup
Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo helped the European giants win the Spanish Super Cup
Bravo, who saved a penalty against Sevilla, is on the brink of joining Manchester Cityu00a0
Bravo, who saved a penalty against Sevilla, is on the brink of joining Manchester City

Robert Fernandez, the Barcelona sporting director, has insisted Bravo will play on Saturday but concedes he could leave before the summer transfer window closes.