Neto is yet to make his debut for Juventus and will likely have to wait for a cup game to get his first opportunity before featuring for the club in Serie A. However, many fans expected the goalkeeper to be named on the bench for the Bianconeri’s match against Cagliari, but he was absent from the squad entirely.
The Brazilian goalkeeper has returned to Turin after nine years away from the club, having previously played for Juventus between 2015 and 2017. He is excited to begin this new chapter of his career and will be eager to get back on the pitch as soon as possible. His absence against Cagliari, however, raised questions among supporters who had expected to see him involved.
Neto’s absence explained
Neto was not missing from the squad because of an injury or a fitness problem. Instead, his absence was connected to disciplinary action taken against him during his time at his former club, Botafogo. Although the goalkeeper has now returned to Juventus, the consequences of that incident had to be dealt with before he could become available for selection.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Neto received a suspension lasting several matches during his final game for Botafogo after insulting the referee. The incident resulted in disciplinary punishment, which initially threatened to keep him out of action for a longer period.
However, the goalkeeper apologised after the match, and his suspension was subsequently reduced to one game. Despite the reduction, he still had to serve the remaining ban, meaning the punishment carried over to his arrival at Juventus. This explains why he was unable to be included in the squad for the meeting with Cagliari.
(Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Neto ready to feature for Juventus
Neto has now served his suspension and is available for selection. His disciplinary situation is no longer an obstacle, allowing him to compete for a place in the team as Juventus prepare for their next fixture. The goalkeeper will hope to make a positive impression and demonstrate that he can contribute whenever the club calls upon him.
It would not be surprising to see Neto start in goal in Juventus’ next game, as the club will want him to gain some playing time and become accustomed to playing for the team again.