Liverpool almost signed Barcelona goalkeeper Neto once upon a time, it has been revealed.
The Reds’ goalkeeping situation is healthy as anything now, with Alisson being a genuine world-class option between the sticks and number two, Caoimhin Kelleher, clearly having a bright future.
But back in 2015, during Brendan Rodgers’s final transfer window as Liverpool boss, there was a whiff of desperation to find a back-up option for Simon Mignolet.
In the end, Rodgers wound up signing Adam Bogdan from Bolton Wanderers, with the Hungarian only managing two Premier League appearances during his four-year spell on the Anfield club’s books.
And John Achterberg, Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach, has revealed that a must better player was almost signed in the form of Neto, who wanted a move to Merseyside but wound up signing for Fiorentina – and later Barcelona, where he is now.
He told Redmen TV: “We wanted to sign a new goalie to be in competition with Simon and I liked Neto. He wanted to come to us but he could not change it so he didn’t come in the end. He still wanted to come but obviously, it didn’t happen and he’s at Barca now.”
Things worked out
After Fiorentina and before Barcelona, the 32-year-old goalkeeper won two Serie A titles at Juventus, en route to sealing a £30 million move to Camp Nou in 2019.
But the Brazilian, who also played for Valencia, has never been number one at Juve or with the Spanish giants, despite the transfer fee.
In the end, Liverpool can’t have too many complaints.
Yes he is better than Mignolet – and obviously Bogdan – but Jurgen Klopp’s side went on to get Alisson eventually, albeit three years after the Neto saga, so things have worked out well for the Reds.
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