Goalkeeper Neto available for transfer

FC Barcelona have decided to cash in on shot-stopper Neto in the current transfer market. The Brazilian 'keeper arrived in the summer of 2019 and has played back-up to Marc-André Ter Stegen for the last two seasons. He's barely played at all since his arrival in the Catalan capital, and his future now looks to be away from Camp Nou.

Barça feel that he is a player with a good reputation who could command a decent transfer fee this summer. Furthermore, by getting the goalkeeper off their books, they would be able to further reduce their wage bill, which is currently too high. Neto's wage is currently very steep compared to his contributions on the pitch for the Barça first team.

He played five times in his first season at the club: twice in LaLiga (once because Ter Stegen was injured and again in the last game of the season), once in the Champions League (in a dead rubber tie with qualification already guaranteed), once in the Copa del Rey (the first tie against Ibiza) and once in the Spanish Super Cup (due to another Ter Stegen injury).

He donned the gloves on twelve occasions in the 2020-21 season. However, ten of these appearances were when first-choice 'keeper Ter Stegen was ruled out with a knee injury at the beginning of the season. The other two appearances were in the cup, lining up against Cornellà and Rayo Vallecano. Since the German international's return to fitness, the Brazilian goalkeeper hasn't featured for the club.

¿Esta vez sí?

Neto asked to leave Barça last winter in order to play more minutes. However, Koeman and the club's sporting directors refused to let him leave as they felt that he would be needed for the second half of the season.

Neto feels that he is good enough to be first choice elsewhere, and in the mid-term he still has hopes of being called up to the Brazil squad for the Qatar World Cup. Brazil's manager Tite called up three goalkeepers for the recent Copa América: Ederson, Alisson and Weverton. While the first two are nailed on to be selected, Neto could be selected as the third-choice keeper if he gets minutes away from Camp Nou.