Juventus Eye Neto as Backup Goalkeeper Following Grabara Injury

The Grabara Injury and the Search for a No. 12

The urgency behind Juventus’s transfer activity stems from an injury sustained by Kamil Grabara during a training session last week. According to an official club statement released by Juventus, the player suffered a twisting injury to his right knee, and diagnostic tests at J|medical revealed a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The club confirmed that the player will undergo orthopedic consultations in the coming days to determine the appropriate therapeutic protocol, leaving him sidelined for the entire season.

With Grabara unavailable, manager Luciano Spalletti and club directors face an immediate decision regarding cover for first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Club officials recognize that veteran backup Carlo Pinsoglio—who has recorded just six appearances in nine years—cannot serve as the sole alternative to the former Tottenham and Empoli man over a demanding campaign. The directive from club leadership emphasizes finding an experienced, low-cost profile capable of providing stability if called upon.

Neto Leads the Shortlist as the Primary Target

At 37 years old, Neto stands as the leading candidate to fill the vacant role. The Brazilian goalkeeper is currently a free agent following his departure from Botafogo. His familiarity with Turin is well-established, having previously served as Gianluigi Buffon’s deputy at Juventus between 2015 and 2017. During that initial stint, Neto claimed two Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies, and one Supercoppa Italiana.

Throughout his extensive career, Neto has also represented Athletico Paranaense, Fiorentina, Valencia, Barcelona, Bournemouth, and Arsenal. Club decision-makers Carnevali, Massara, and Ottolini view the experienced Brazilian as an ideal fit, and Spalletti has reportedly given his approval. The technical staff values Neto’s reliability, particularly given Vicario’s recent medical history, which includes a hernia operation and an ankle injury over the past two seasons.

Alternative Goalkeeping Options Evaluated by Juventus

While Neto holds the pole position, Juventus have examined roughly ten candidates offered by intermediaries in recent days. Among the alternatives considered by the Bianconeri are Alessio Cragno, Alfred Gomis, and Jasper Cillessen. Other names under evaluation include Bruno Varela and Sergio Rico, the latter of whom has drawn closer scrutiny from the sporting department.

The club has also monitored younger and older options alike, including 2002-born Adam Stejskal, who served as the primary starter for WSG Tirol last season. Additionally, 39-year-old Asmir Begovic—who spent the previous campaign at Leicester City and was previously signed by Massara at AC Milan in 2020 to back up Gianluigi Donnarumma—remains part of the broader pool of discussed profiles.

Next Steps and Squad Outlook

Juventus are expected to finalize their evaluation and conclude negotiations within the next 24 to 48 hours to ensure Spalletti has adequate depth in the squad before upcoming fixtures. The team returns to competitive action following the administrative resolution of the backup position.