The Catalans are short of experienced cover for first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen following confirmation the Brazilian faces an extended spell out <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Barcelona have ruled goalkeeper Neto out for up to eight weeks with a fractured left wrist.<\/p>\n
The new signing underwent an operation on Tuesday after suffering the injury during training prior to the\u00a04-0 weekend win over Napoli in Michigan.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old joined Barca from Valencia in June\u00a0in a deal worth an initial \u20ac26 million (\u00a323m\/$30m)\u00a0as Jasper Cillessen moved in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
His absence leaves the La Liga champions without an experienced competitor for first-choice\u00a0Marc-Andre ter Stegen ahead of Friday’s season opener against Athletic Bilbao.<\/p>\n
Inaki Pena, 20, is expected to be promoted from Barcelona B after travelling with Ernesto Valverde’s squad to the United States.<\/p>\n
The timescale placed on Neto’s recovery could keep him out until after the international break in October.<\/p>\n
Neto is a verteran of 67 top flight games in Spain, while the well-travelled shot-stopper has also featured in Italy’s Serie A for Juventus and Fiorentina, and Brazil’s Serie A with Athletico Paranaense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite having played for such storied clubs, he is looking forward to getting going with Barca and is hopeful the silverware will follow.<\/p>\n
“It’s a dream for any footballer. When you talk about Barcelona, ever player at the highest level wishes to play for a team like this one,” Neto told SPORT.\u00a0 Barca are also set to be without key man Lionel Messi for their opening league outing as the Argentine superstar is nursing a calf problem.<\/p>\n “He’s in the recovery process and I don’t know if he will be ready for the start of La Liga,” Valverde told a news conference after a 4-0 win over Napoli in Michigan on Saturday. “It’s looking difficult.”<\/p>\n That success was Barcelona’s fourth on the spin in pre-season and marked the first goal in the famous Blaugrana for summer arrival Antoine Griezmann, the club’s marquee signing from Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Catalans are short of experienced cover for first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen following confirmation the Brazilian faces an extended spell out Barcelona have ruled goalkeeper Neto out for up to eight weeks with a fractured left wrist. The new signing underwent an operation on Tuesday after suffering the injury during training prior to the\u00a04-0 weekend … <\/p>\n
“It’s very different. It means your hard work has paid off when your club can compete for every trophy available.
Click Here: All Blacks Rugby Jersey<\/a>“For me, as someone who likes to always win, to compete at the highest level is the best.”\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n