Barcelona are preparing for a pivotal summer transfer window during which they plan to bring in reinforcements in several positions while also getting rid of unwanted players.
Erling Haaland is the top priority for the Catalan club, while they are also eyeing reinforcements in defence. At the same time, recent reports have indicated that the Blaugrana are also scouring the market for a new goalkeeper to compete with Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Such a move would mean the end of the road for current second-choice goalkeeper Neto. The Brazilian has been with Barça since 2019 when he was signed from Valencia in a move that saw Jasper Cillessen move the other way.
However, the 32-year-old has never really got an extended run in the starting XI, barring the period when ter Stegen was out on the sidelines due to injuries. In close to three years at the club, Neto has featured just 20 times to date and has been angling for an exit for some time now.
And, as per Xavi Campos via LaTdT, the former Juventus goalkeeper will get his wishes in the summer transfer window later this year.
Barcelona will look to sell the Brazilian shot-stopper at the end of the season. In case they fail to find a buyer for him, the La Liga bigwigs will terminate his contract and release him. The club would pay him a part of his remaining contract, which runs until the summer of 2023.
The move would make sense for both parties involved in case there are no suitors, as Barça will be clearing out a player that they have no need for. As for Neto, as iterated earlier, he has been trying to secure an exit for some time now in search of a club where he can play regularly.
Even if Barcelona do not sign a new goalkeeper, Inaki Pena, who is out on loan at Galatasaray, and Arnau Tenas are waiting in the wings to step in.