Juventus have officially confirmed the re-signing of Brazilian goalkeeper Norberto Neto, who returns to the club nine years after his initial departure. The deal sees Neto commit to the Turin giants until 30 June 2027.
The move comes as Juventus sought a replacement for Kamil Grabara, who sustained a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee on 19 September. Grabara has since undergone surgery and is expected to be out of action for six to seven months.
Neto, who was a free agent, previously played for Juventus between 2015 and 2017. During his first spell, he made 22 appearances across two seasons, serving as an understudy to Gianluigi Buffon. He was part of the squad that secured two Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies, and a Supercoppa Italiana.
Goalkeeping Situation
Grabara’s injury occurred just five days after he kept a clean sheet on his Juventus debut, a 5-0 Europa League victory over NEC Nijmegen. With Carlo Pinsoglio not considered sufficient cover for first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Juventus turned to the free agent market to address their immediate needs, with Neto being a familiar and available option.
Since leaving Juventus in 2017, the 34-year-old goalkeeper has had spells in various European leagues and back in Brazil. He spent five years in Spain, playing for Valencia and Barcelona, followed by three years in England with Bournemouth and Arsenal. Most recently, he played a season back in his home country with Botafogo before becoming a free agent.