The fact that Inter CEO Beppe Marotta is a fan of Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto and his Italian citizenship are major reasons why the Brazilian is the favourite to replace Samir Handanovic at Inter.
This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who report that the 33-year-old is in pole position to join the Nerazzurri should Handanovic not extend his contract.
If Handanovic decides to leave Inter at the end of his current deal rather than remaining on as backup to Andre Onana, then the Nerazzurri will need to sign a new keeper to deputize for the Cameroonian.
Marotta has long been a fan of Neto, having worked with him in the past at Juventus.
Moreover, the former Fiorentina, Valencia, and Barcelona keeper holds an Italian passport, meaning that he would not take up a non-EU spot in the Nerazzurri’s squad.
Accordingly, according to Tuttosport, he would be the main name on the Nerazzurri’s list of possible replacements for captain Handanovic.