Liverpool currently have Alisson Becker as their first-choice goalkeeper, but they could have had another Brazilian shot-stopper between the sticks if things had gone a bit differently back in 2015.
Those are the words of Liverpool’s Head of Goalkeeping John Achterberg who revealed exclusively to us that he was keen on signing Neto from Fiorentina six years ago, but the player, as keen as he was on the transfer, was unable to break his pre-contract agreement with Juventus.
During our exclusive interview ‘In Conversation with John Achterberg’ – which is now streaming live HERE, the Reds’ goalkeeper coach said he wanted to sign the Brazilian and that the player wanted to join Liverpool too.
He said:
“We wanted to sign a new goalie to be in competition with Simon [Mignolet] and I liked Neto. He was at Fiorentina and we went there, we met his agent, we met Neto but he had already signed [an agreement with] Juventus. 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.”
Redmen Reacts
All’s well that ends well in the end, as Liverpool now have one of, if not the, best goalkeepers in the world at the club but back in 2015, Neto would have been an excellent signing. Liverpool needed strong competition for Simon Mignolet, who was a pretty good goalkeeper but not exactly a great one, and Neto could have provided that.
Liverpool struggled for years to find a good enough second-option, with the likes of Adam Bogdan becoming members of the squad when they simply were not good enough, so Neto, had The Reds been able to get a deal done, would have been a very handy player to have.
Still, Liverpool now how Alisson in goal and with Caoimhin Kelleher developing into a very good back-up, The Reds look well set in the goalkeeping department for years to come.
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