Neto (footballer, born 1989)

Norberto Neto
Neto with Valencia in 2019
Personal information
Full name Norberto Murara Neto[1]
Date of birth (1989-07-19) 19 July 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Araxá, Brazil
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Arsenal
(on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Number 32
Youth career
Cruzeiro
2003–2009 Athletico Paranaense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Athletico Paranaense 36 (0)
2011–2015 Fiorentina 72 (0)
2015–2017 Juventus 11 (0)
2017–2019 Valencia 67 (0)
2019–2022 Barcelona 12 (0)
2022– AFC Bournemouth 61 (0)
2024–Arsenal (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2012 Brazil U23 6 (0)
2018 Brazil 1 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Men's Football
Silver medal – second place 2012 Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:35, 26 August 2024 (UTC)

Norberto Murara Neto (born 19 July 1989), commonly known as Neto (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈnɛtu]), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Arsenal, on loan from AFC Bournemouth.

Neto began his career with Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense and later played for Italian side Fiorentina. He joined Juventus in 2015, where he won the domestic double in each of his two seasons with the club, serving as a back-up to starter Gianluigi Buffon in the league, but appearing in all of the club's games in both of their victorious Coppa Italia campaigns. From 2017, he played in Spain's La Liga as first choice for Valencia and back-up at Barcelona. He joined AFC Bournemouth in 2022, becoming club captain in 2023.

He was first called up for the Brazil national team in 2010 but did not earn his first cap until 2018. He won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics and was part of the nation's squad at the 2015 Copa América.

Club career

[edit]

Athlético Paranaense

[edit]

Born in Araxá, Minas Gerais, Neto moved as a teenager from his state's Cruzeiro to Athletico Paranaense. He made his professional debut at the age of 19 in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A due to the suspension of first-choice Rodrigo Galatto, and kept a clean sheet in a 3–0 home win over Grêmio Barueri on 16 August 2009.[3][4] His only other appearance of the season came on 29 November in the final home game, as a half-time substitute for Galatto in a 2–0 win over Botafogo also at the Arena da Baixada.[5]

After Galatto and second-choice Vinícius left Atlético-PR, Neto became the first-choice goalkeeper for the 2010 season. In the opener on 9 May, he was sent off in a 2–1 loss at Corinthians for a foul on Dentinho;[6] following a two-match suspension, he returned and started every game for the club until October, when he was forced to miss several games after being called up for the Brazil national team.

Fiorentina

[edit]
Neto training with Fiorentina in 2014

Neto agreed a deal to play for Italian club Fiorentina on 5 January 2011,[7] signing the contract three days later for a €3.5 million transfer fee split into three payments and Atlético-PR retaining 25% of his economic rights.[7][8] Second-choice to Artur Boruc, he made his debut in the 4th round of the 2011–12 Coppa Italia on 24 November 2011 at home to fellow Tuscans Empoli, winning 2–1.[9] He made his Serie A debut on 29 April in a 2–0 loss at Atalanta.[10]

In 2013–14, with Boruc and Emiliano Viviano now having left the Stadio Artemio Franchi, Neto became the first-choice goalkeeper for La Viola. He made his continental debut in their run to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, playing nine games; this started with a 2–1 win at Grasshopper Zürich in the play-off on 22 August and concluded with elimination by rivals Juventus in March 2014.[11][12] On 3 May, he played in the 2014 Coppa Italia Final, which Fiorentina lost 3–1 to Napoli.[13]

Fiorentina reached the semi-finals of the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Sevilla. Neto played seven of the eight knockout games, with Romanian Ciprian Tătărușanu playing the preceding fixtures before injury.[14]

Juventus

[edit]

Neto joined Juventus on a four-year contract on 3 July 2015, after his Fiorentina deal expired.[15] He made his debut on 23 September, starting in a 1–1 Serie A home draw against Frosinone.[16] On 16 December, he achieved his first clean sheet with the club in a 4–0 win over cross-city rivals Torino during a Coppa Italia match.[17] He kept his first league clean sheet in the final fixture on 14 May 2016, a 5–0 home win over Sampdoria, as Juventus celebrated their Serie A title victory.[18][19] A week later, he kept another clean sheet to win the cup final 1–0 against A.C. Milan in Rome's Stadio Olimpico.[20]

In his second season with the club, Neto made his UEFA Champions League debut on 7 December 2016, in Juventus's final group match, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb.[21] Although he served as a back-up to Gianluigi Buffon in the league, he was the team's starting goalkeeper in the Coppa Italia, featuring in all their matches including the 2–0 victory over Lazio in the final on 17 May 2017. Juventus won their 12th Coppa Italia title, becoming the first team to win three consecutive championships and league-cup doubles.[22]

Valencia

[edit]

On 7 July 2017, Neto joined Valencia on a four-year contract[23] in a €7 million deal, plus an additional €2 million in conditional bonuses.[24] He made his debut for the club on 18 August, starting in a 1–0 La Liga home win against Las Palmas.[25]

While Neto was the first-choice goalkeeper in both of his league seasons at the Mestalla Stadium, Jaume Doménech played all the Copa del Rey games including the 2–1 win over Barcelona in the 2019 final.[26]

Barcelona

[edit]
Neto playing against Red Bull Salzburg in August 2021

On 27 June 2019, it was announced that Neto would move to Barcelona for €26m plus €9m in add-ons. He arrived as back-up for Marc-André ter Stegen, a day after fellow goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen moved in the other direction.[27] He made his debut on 10 December in a 2–1 win at Inter Milan at the end of the Champions League group stage, with manager Ernesto Valverde resting most of his key players.[28] He played two league games over the season, starting on 4 January 2020 in the Derbi barceloní against Espanyol, a 2–2 away draw while Ter Stegen was injured.[29]

Neto played in Barcelona's first six league games and three of the six UEFA Champions League group stage matches of 2020–21, as his German teammate took until the end of October to recover from a knee injury;[30] this included a 3–1 home loss to Real Madrid in El Clásico on 24 October.[31]

AFC Bournemouth

[edit]

On 7 August 2022, Neto joined Premier League club AFC Bournemouth on a free transfer, signing a 12-month contract.[32] He was initially back-up to Mark Travers.[33] He made his debut on 23 August in the second round of the EFL Cup away to Norwich City, winning on penalties after a 2–2 draw;[34] eight days later he played his first league game, a goalless draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.[35] He remained first choice until suffering a hamstring injury on 24 October in the 2–0 loss at West Ham United, with Travers replacing him at half time;[36] he returned on 14 January 2023 for a defeat by the same score away to Brentford, and was praised by manager Gary O'Neil for recovering ahead of schedule.[37]

Loan to Arsenal

[edit]

On 30 August 2024, Neto joined Arsenal on a season-long loan on deadline day.[38]

International career

[edit]

In September 2010, 21-year-old Neto had his first call-up for the Brazil national football team under manager Mano Menezes, who chose several new young players with an eye to the 2012 Olympic tournament.[39][40] He took no part in the friendlies against Iran in the United Arab Emirates and against Ukraine in England.[41] He was called up again in October to face Argentina in another exhibition in Qatar.[42]

Neto was in the Brazil squad for the 2012 Olympic tournament in Great Britain, playing in their two opening group stage wins over Egypt and Belarus before being replaced by Gabriel as the nation went on to win the silver medal.[43]

Neto was one of seven stand-by players named by Dunga for the senior team at the 2015 Copa América,[44] but was eventually called into the main squad after a knee injury to Diego Alves.[45] He remained on the bench as Jefferson played as first-choice goalkeeper, and Brazil reached the quarter-finals.

On 12 September 2018, eight years after his first senior call-up, Neto made his debut for Brazil when he started in a 5–0 friendly win over El Salvador in the United States.[46]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 28 August 2024[47]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Athletico Paranaense 2009 Série A 2 0 0 0 2 0
2010 34 0 6 0 40 0
Total 36 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 0
Fiorentina 2010–11 Serie A 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011–12 2 0 2 0 4 0
2012–13 6 0 4 0 10 0
2013–14 35 0 5 0 9[c] 0 49 0
2014–15 29 0 2 0 7[c] 0 38 0
Total 72 0 13 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 101 0
Juventus 2015–16 Serie A 3 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2016–17 8 0 5 0 1[d] 0 0 0 14 0
Total 11 0 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 22 0
Valencia 2017–18 La Liga 33 0 0 0 33 0
2018–19 34 0 0 0 13[e] 0 47 0
Total 67 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 80 0
Barcelona 2019–20 La Liga 2 0 1 0 1[d] 0 1[f] 0 5 0
2020–21 7 0 2 0 3[d] 0 0 0 12 0
2021–22 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Total 12 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 21 0
AFC Bournemouth 2022–23 Premier League 27 0 0 0 1 0 28 0
2023–24 32 0 0 0 0 0 32 0
2024–25 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
Total 61 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 63 0
Arsenal (loan) 2024–25 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 259 0 33 0 2 0 34 0 1 0 329 0
  1. ^ Includes Copa do Brasil, Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ Eight appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España

International

[edit]
As of 12 September 2018[48]
Brazil
Year Apps Goals
2018 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

[edit]
Neto (in green shorts and socks) lining up for Juventus in April 2017, during a double-winning season

Juventus[47]

Valencia[47]

Barcelona[47]

Brazil U23

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Acta del Partido celebrado el 24 de septiembre de 2019, en Barcelona" [Minutes of the Match held on 24 September 2019, in Barcelona] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Neto". Premier League. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Neto estreia no Atlético-PR com o apoio do treinador" [Neto debuts for Atlético-PR with the manager's support]. Estadão (in Portuguese). 14 August 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  4. ^ Bubniak, Geraldo (17 August 2009). "Paulo Baier comanda o Furacão que vence Barueri na Baixada" [Paulo Baier commands the Furacão who defeat Barueri in the Baixada] (in Portuguese). Futebol Paranaense. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Atlético-PR vence, se salva da degola, e Bota volta à zona de rebaixamento" [Atlético-PR win, save themselves from the drop, and Bota return to the relegation zone] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Corinthians vence Atlético-PR na estreia no Brasileirão" [Corinthians defeat Atlético-PR in Brasileirão opener]. Diário do Nordeste (in Portuguese). 9 May 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Neto deixa o Atlético-PR e acerta com a Fiorentina" [Neto leaves Atlético-PR and joins Fiorentina]. Lance! (in Portuguese). 5 January 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  8. ^ "Neto passa nos exames e é confirmado na Fiorentina" [Neto passes tests and is confirmed as a Fiorentina player]. Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 8 January 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  9. ^ Pirrone, Dario (24 November 2011). "Fiorentina-Empoli 2-1: L'avventura dei viola in Coppa Italia continua, ma che fatica..." [Fiorentina-Empoli 2-1: The 'Viola''s adventure in the Coppa Italia continues, but what an exhausting game...] (in Italian). Goal. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  10. ^ Sala, Federico (29 April 2012). "Atalanta da record La Fiorentina va ko" [Record-breaking Atalanta, Fiorentina knocked out]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  11. ^ Sala, Federico (22 August 2013). "Grasshopper-Fiorentina 1-2: Cuadrado e un autogol lanciano i viola" [Grasshopper-Fiorentina 1-2: Cuadrado and an own goal launch the Viola]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Europa League roundup: Juventus beat Fiorentina with pearler from Pirlo". The Guardian. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Coppa Italia final: Rafael Benitez's Napoli beat Fiorentina 3–1". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Fiorentina, problema portiere: Tatarusanu va ko, torna Neto" [Fiorentina, goalkeeper problem: Tătărușanu out, Neto returns]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 23 February 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  15. ^ Campanale, Susy (3 July 2015). "Official: Neto joins Juventus". Football Italia. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Juventus held to draw at home by minnows Frosinone". ESPN FC. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  17. ^ "Coppa: Four-star Juve crush Toro". Football Italia. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Juve celebrate in the sign of Five". Football Italia. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Juventus 5 Sampdoria 0: Dybala double wraps up season in style". FourFourTwo. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  20. ^ "AC Milan 0-1 Juventus (aet)". BBC Sport. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  21. ^ "CL: Higuain breaks Juve drought". Football Italia. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  22. ^ "JUVENTUS WINS HISTORIC THIRD STRAIGHT COPPA ITALIA". beIN Sports. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  23. ^ "Neto, new Valencia CF player until 2021". 7 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  24. ^ "Official: Valencia sign Neto". Football Italia. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  25. ^ "Este Valencia pinta bien" [This Valencia look good]. Marca (in Spanish). 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  26. ^ Picó, Diego (9 December 2019). "Jaume, el portero de las 'finales'" [Jaume, the goalkeeper for 'finals']. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Barcelona sign goalkeeper Neto from Valencia in £23m deal". ITV News. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  28. ^ West, Andy (11 December 2019). "Inter 1-2 Barcelona: Player ratings as Lautaro Martinez impresses and Neto shines on debut". Sport 360. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  29. ^ Lowe, Sid (6 January 2020). "New year, new Espanyol? Barcelona draw offers hope at last". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  30. ^ Brennan, Feargal (6 November 2020). "Barcelona star Marc Ter Stegen set for La Liga return against Real Betis". Football España. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  31. ^ Lowe, Sid (24 October 2020). "Sergio Ramos penalty sets up Real Madrid's clásico victory over Barcelona". The Observer. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Cherries sign experienced goalkeeper Neto". AFC Bournemouth. 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  33. ^ "Travers 'positive' for Anfield trip and Neto competition". BBC Sport. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  34. ^ Tanner, Jack (23 August 2022). "Cantwell penalty miss helps former side as Cherries advance past Norwich in League Cup". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  35. ^ "AFC Bournemouth 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  36. ^ Tanner, Jack (27 October 2022). "AFC Bournemouth's Neto out with hamstring injury". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  37. ^ Crocker, Tom (17 January 2023). "Neto 'worked really hard' to return 'ahead of schedule'". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  38. ^ "Neto signs for Arsenal on season-long loan". Arsenal F.C. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  39. ^ Viga Gaier, Rodrigo (23 September 2010). "Mano deixa Neymar de fora da seleção para dar "exemplo"" [Mano leaves Neymar out the national team to give "example"] (in Portuguese). Reuters. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  40. ^ Kneipp, Mariana (23 September 2010). "Aos 21 anos, Neto recebe primeira convocação e sonha com Olimpíadas" [Aged 21, Neto receives first call-up and dreams of the Olympics] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  41. ^ "Neto volta ao Atlético-PR empolgado com a seleção" [Neto returns to Atlético-PR excited by the national team]. Estadão (in Portuguese). 13 October 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Neto é convocado de novo para a Seleção Brasileira" [Neto is chosen again for the Brazilian National Team] (in Portuguese). Banda B. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  43. ^ Mark Meadows (3 January 2015). "Fiorentina keeper Neto rejects new contract". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  44. ^ "Kaka among 7 alternates in Brazil's Copa America squad". ESPN. Associated Press. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  45. ^ "Diego Alves Ruled Out of Copa America With Serious Knee Injury". beIN Sports. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  46. ^ Simplicio, Raisa (12 September 2018). "Eight years and 25 matches – Neto's long wait for Brazil debut". Goal. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  47. ^ a b c d "Neto". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  48. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Neto". National Football Teams. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  49. ^ "Neto: Medals in Men's Football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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