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Soccer transfers: Barca sign Brazilian goalkeeper Neto

Last updated on: June 27, 2019 16:16 IST

Norberto Murara Neto of Valencia

IMAGE: Norberto Neto will sign a four-year deal with Barcelona. Photograph: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Barcelona have agreed to sign Brazilian goalkeeper Norberto Murara Neto from Valencia for an initial 26 million euros ($29.55 million), the La Liga champions said on Thursday.

Neto will sign a four-year deal with Barcelona that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2022-23 season and he will replace Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen who moved the other way on Wednesday.

 

"FC Barcelona and Valencia CF have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Norberto Murara Neto," Barcelona said in a statement.

"The cost of the transaction will be 26 million euros plus 9 million in add-ons."

Barcelona also said that they would be inserting a release clause of 200 million euros in Neto's contract and the 29-year-old is expected to be backup to first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Neto made 47 appearances for Valencia in all competitions last season, and his 10 clean sheets in La Liga helped them qualify for the Champions League after they clinched the fourth and final spot at the end of the campaign.

Valencia sign Dutch goalkeeper Cillessen from Barcelona

Valencia have signed Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen from Barcelona on a four-year deal, both Spanish clubs said on Wednesday.

Barca said in a statement they would receive 35 million euros ($40 million) for the 30-year-old Cillessen, earning a considerable profit on the Dutchman who they signed from Ajax Amsterdam for an initial fee of 13 million euros in 2016.

Cillessen played 32 times in three seasons for Barca, never managing to unseat German Marc-Andre ter Stegen as the club's number one goalkeeper.

He was regularly picked as first choice in the Copa del Rey, however, lifting the trophy twice with Barca but he was on the losing side in last season's final which Valencia won 2-1 to end an 11-year wait for a trophy.

Valencia said Cillessen's contract would contain a buy-out clause of 80 million euros.

Cillessen has been capped 50 times by the Netherlands and is their first-choice keeper.

Benfica confirm 126 million euro offer for Felix from Atletico

Benfica are evaluating an 126 million euros ($143.16 million) offer for Portugal striker Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid, the Portuguese club said in a statement on Wednesday.

If terms are agreed, the 19-year-old would become the most expensive player in Atletico's history, smashing the La Liga side's transfer fee record of 72 million euros to sign France winger Thomas Lemar from AS Monaco last season.

"Atletico Madrid submitted a proposal for the acquisition of (Felix) for a total amount of 126,000,000 euros which is being analysed," Benfica said in a statement to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission.

Felix would become the fifth most expensive signing in history after Neymar, who holds the record after his 222 million euro move to Paris St Germain in 2017, Kylian Mbappe (180 million euros), Philippe Coutinho (142 million pounds [$180 million]) and Ousmane Dembele (105 million euros).

Felix scored 19 times for Benfica last season, which included 15 league goals and a memorable Europa League hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt which made him the youngest player to accomplish the feat in the competition.

An uptick in performances towards the end of the season earned him a call-up to the Portugal national team where he made his international debut and partnered Cristiano Ronaldo up front in their UEFA Nations League semi-final win over Switzerland.

Atletico have been in the market for a forward after talismanic striker Antoine Griezmann said last month that he would leave in the close season.

The France international's release clause drops from 200 million euros to 120 million euros on July 1, and Spanish media reported that he has agreed personal terms with La Liga champions Barcelona.

Source: REUTERS
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