Juventus goalkeeper decision due by tomorrow: Neto in pole position
Brazilian veteran Neto is the frontrunner to join Juventus as the club seeks an emergency replacement for the injured Kamil Grabara.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Original: Leandro Ceruti from Rosta, Italia / Derivative work: Danyele
Juventus management is working to finalize the signing of a new goalkeeper within the next 24 to 48 hours. The club is acting urgently after Kamil Grabara suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee during a training session last week.
Currently, 37-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper Neto is the frontrunner for the position. A free agent following his departure from Botafogo, Neto is well-acquainted with the club, having served as Gigi Buffon's deputy at Juventus between 2015 and 2017. During that stint, he collected two league titles, two Coppa Italia trophies, and one Italian Super Cup.
Neto is viewed as a solid fit for the technical staff, and he reportedly has the backing of Luciano Spalletti. The coach is prioritizing reliability as a backup for Guglielmo Vicario, who has faced fitness challenges recently, including a hernia surgery and an ankle injury.
While Neto leads the race, Juventus have evaluated a long list of potential alternatives offered to them in recent days. Names such as Alessio Cragno, Alfred Gomis, Jasper Cillessen, Bruno Varela, and Sergio Rico have been considered. The club also assessed 22-year-old Adam Stejskal and 39-year-old veteran Asmir Begovic as potential options to bolster the squad.