Neto will reportedly not join La Liga club Celta Vigo in the summer transfer window, even as he continues to face an uncertain future at FC Barcelona.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, joining Celta Vigo is no longer an option for Neto. The experienced goalkeeper continues facing an uncertain future at Camp Nou, with Barcelona leaving him behind in Catalonia before embarking on their pre-season tour to the USA.
Neto has been with Barcelona for three years, but his stint at Camp Nou has been frustrating, to say the least. The 33-year-old has been an afterthought for the most part at the Catalan club, with Ernesto Valverde, Quique Setien, Ronald Koeman, and Xavi Hernandez only deeming him fit to feature in cup competitions.
The veteran goalkeeper has made a few appearances in La Liga and UEFA Champions League, but that has only happened when Marc-Andre ter Stegen has not been fit. Neto has made just 21 appearances thus far for Barcelona, keeping seven clean sheets. But with his career headed nowhere, he wants to leave Barcelona.
The player has no shortage of suitors, with clubs in England and Italy showing interest in him. At the same time, a few La Liga outfits have also been hot on Neto’s heels, with Celta Vigo reportedly keen on prising him away from Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
Several players have already joined Celta Vigo this summer, but they remain keen on continuing to reinforce their first-team squad. Signing a new goalkeeper is crucial for Eduardo Coudet following the departure of Matias Dituro at the end of his loan stint.
Antonio Blanco, the only other natural goalkeeper at Coudet’s disposal, might not be the first-choice shot-stopper for Celta Vigo either. Neto has thus emerged as a viable target for the Galician outfit, who recently seemed to be in advanced talks with the Barcelona outcast. But Neto has ruled out a move to the Balaidos this summer.
Even though Neto’s future is under a cloud of uncertainty, he is not ramping up his efforts to depart from Camp Nou in the summer transfer window. Barcelona left him in Catalonia before leaving for the pre-season tour to the USA, and it is unclear what the future has in store for the 33-year-old after refusing to move across La Liga to join Celta Vigo.
