La Liga new boys Girona have reportedly submitted an enquiry for 33-year-old veteran goalkeeper Neto, who faces an uncertain future at FC Barcelona.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Neto is the subject of interest from newly-promoted La Liga club Girona over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The 33-year-old veteran goalkeeper is surplus to requirements at Camp Nou, with Barcelona keen on offloading him this month.
Neto has had an enigmatic career thus far as he has represented some of Europe’s most high-profile clubs but succeeded when he has featured for smaller teams. The Brazilian shot-stopper has excelled the most during his stints with Valencia and Fiorentina while being a backup option at Juventus and Barcelona.
The 33-year-old joined Barcelona from Valencia nearly three years ago, and his stock has taken a beating since then. Neto has had to suffice with being Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s deputy, featuring prominently in cup games while earning a few starts here and there in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
The veteran goalkeeper has managed only 21 appearances thus far for Barcelona, keeping seven clean sheets. And Neto’s frustration has reached a tipping point, compelling him to seek a possible summer departure from Camp Nou. The Catalan giants are also ready to offload him for any price, with La Liga new boys Girona emerging in his pursuit.
The newly-promoted La Liga club will likely look to prise a few out-of-favour players away from the biggest Spanish clubs, with Barcelona prodigy Ez Abde reportedly on their radar. Several Real Madrid players are also the subject of interest from Girona, who will want to bolster the first-team squad considerably to remain in the top flight.
Neto has thus emerged as a viable target for the Catalan club, with his abilities making him an upgrade over Juan Carlos and Adrian Ortola. But Neto’s wages will be problematic for Girona to match, leaving the 33-year-old veteran in limbo as he looks to sort his future.
Barcelona aim to get Neto off the books as soon as possible to register new signings and lighten the wage bill. But a transfer will only see the light of day if a suitor can match Neto’s wage demands. So it will be interesting to see if the veteran goalkeeper remains in La Liga by joining Girona or joins a foreign club instead.
