After the signing of NAC Breda defender Mike van Beijnen FC Barcelona make Brazil star Norberto Murara 'Neto' their second signing this summer. He joins the Catalans from Valencia who, in turn, signed their former goalie Jasper Cillessen.
The Brazil international goalkeeper has completed a switch to Camp Nou on a four-year contract through to the end of the 2022-23 season. It was reported that the Blaugrana have snapped up the former Juventus goalkeeper from La Liga rivals Valencia in a deal worth an initial €26 million (£23m/$30m).
Barcelona released an official statement on their website and went ahead to give details about their new player:
"FC Barcelona and Valencia CF have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Norberto Murara Neto. The cost of the transaction will be €26m plus 9m in add-ons. "The player will be signing a contract with the club for the next four seasons, until the end of the 2022/23 season, and his buyout clause has been set at 200 million euros.
"Details of the Brazilian goalkeeper’s presentation as a new Barça player will be released shortly.
"Neto: strength and agility
"Norberto Murara Neto (born on 19 July 1989 in Araxá, Brazil) embodies Brazilian smoothness between the posts. His agility and quick reactions have made him the sure-handed goalkeeper who turned in outstanding performances at Valencia (2017-2019), Juventus (2015-2017), Fiorentina (2011-2015 ) and Paranaense (2002-2011). Neto has been a goalkeeper since his childhood in Brazil, and always wore gloves to emulate his father.
"Neto made the leap to Europe via Fiorentina, where his last two seasons were spectacular, becoming one of the fundamental pieces of the Italian side’s defensive unit, which led him to sign with Juventus. But in Turin, Neto was Gianluigi Buffon’s backup, and the desire to continually improve year after year led Neto to Valencia, where he was the starting goalkeeper the last two seasons.
"Plenty of coverage in net
The Brazilian goalkeeper has a large presence between the sticks. His height, at almost two meters, combined with his agility, make Neto a goalkeeper who gives strikers very little net to shoot at. Neto is sure-handed in the aerial game and is very tough to beat one-on-one. In addition, despite his height, Neto has shown speed and quick reflexes in playing goalkeeper at some of Europe’s most demanding clubs."
Although Neto has largely been first choice at Valencia, the keeper's strained relationship with Marcelino Garcia Toral is the reason he wants out. The Brazilian didn't like how his coach rotated the two goalkeepers at the club and was disappointed not to start in the Copa del Rey final.
Valencia are happy to swap Neto for Cillessen as they want a goalkeeper with Champions League experience. Any potential deals for Rafinha and Denis Suarez are going to take a while longer to complete.

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