Juventus have officially confirmed the return of Brazilian goalkeeper Norberto Neto, bringing back a familiar face to provide emergency cover in goal. The 37-year-old signs as a free agent on a deal running until 30 June 2027, arriving to shore up a department hit hard by injury.
The move comes after Kamil Grabara suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee, leaving the club short of reliable options behind current starter Guglielmo Vicario. With the Old Lady needing an experienced body ready to step in at short notice, the hierarchy turned to a player who already knows exactly what is expected of him at the Allianz Stadium.
Neto is no stranger to the Bianconeri. He previously represented Juventus between 2015 and 2017, making 22 appearances across two seasons as understudy during a golden period for the club, and left with two Scudetti, two Coppa Italia trophies and one Italian Super Cup to his name.
That prior spell, and his understanding of the demands that come with wearing the shirt, was cited by the club as a key factor behind his emergency return to the first-team squad. Since leaving Turin, Neto built a well-travelled career, spending five years in Spain with Valencia and Barcelona, three seasons in England with Bournemouth and Arsenal, before returning to South America last season with Botafogo.
The official announcement confirms only that Neto arrives as a free agent on a deal until 30 June 2027; no transfer fee or wage details were disclosed in the club’s statement. Before signing, Neto travelled to Turin’s Caselle airport and went through the standard checks at J|Medical, passing his fitness examinations without issue despite his age.
He is now considered ready to contribute immediately to the first-team setup, giving Luciano Spalletti’s staff a seasoned option to call upon should Vicario be unavailable. It marks the latest twist in a goalkeeping department that has already seen significant turnover this season, and for now Neto’s job is simple: be ready if he’s needed, and bring calm experience to a group leaning on him more than anyone expected in September.
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