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| Nico Gonzalez and Norberto Murara Neto of FC Barcelona during a training session at Camp Nou on January 03, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. |
Celta Vigo will reportedly look to sign
out-of-favour Brazilian goalkeeper Neto from Barcelona in the summer transfer
window.
According to a report by Spanish outlet La Razon, Neto is the subject of interest from Celta Vigo over
a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Galician giants hope to see
fellow La Liga club Barcelona terminate the Brazilian goalkeeper’s contract to
secure his services on a free transfer.
Neto joined Barcelona from Valencia in July 2019, as
Jasper Cillessen went the other way in a separate deal. But the move has not
panned out as envisioned for the 32-year-old, who has had to play second fiddle
to Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the last three years.
The veteran Brazilian goalkeeper has thus had to
make do with appearances in cup competitions and the odd outings in La Liga and
the UEFA Champions League. Neto has turned out just 21 times for Barcelona, keeping seven clean sheets.
His frustrations have boiled over as he is keen on leaving Barcelona in the
summer transfer window. And Celta Vigo could offer Neto an escape route out of
Barcelona.
The interest from Celta Vigo is surprising,
considering Ruben Blanco has been solid between the sticks for the Galician
club. But Los Celestes chose not to sign Matias Dituro permanently in
the summer transfer window, and the 35-year-old’s return to Universidad Catolica
has created the need to bolster the goalkeeping department.
While Neto has struggled to make his mark at
Barcelona for factors out of his hand, the 32-year-old still has a lot to
offer, as evidenced by his performances whenever he turns out for the Blaugrana.
The experienced shot-stopper is thus a viable target for Celta Vigo.
But the Galician giants are hoping to see Barcelona
terminate the Brazilian goalkeeper’s contract to sign him on a free transfer.
And while some reports have claimed that Neto wants to stay put at Camp Nou, those suggestions seem
wide of the mark.
The Barcelona outcast has also been on the radar of Arsenal,
but he could remain in La Liga beyond the summer transfer window amid interest
from Celta Vigo. But a transfer to the Balaidos depends on Barcelona
terminating Neto’s contract, and it will be interesting to see if the Catalan
giants take such a decision.
