Barcelona looking at La Liga ace to serve as ter Stegen backup

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have big decisions to take regarding the goalkeeper situation given the situation of Neto and Inaki Pena.

Neto, who moved to Barcelona in a swap deal that saw Jasper Cillessen move to Valencia, has not had to go easy at the club. The Brazilian has only rarely seen minutes to play and has failed to provide Marc-Andre ter Stegen with any competition.

While Neto’s departure from Barcelona is imminent, La Masia graduate Inaki Pena too, seems to be considering a move away from the club. Despite being kept with the first team on Ronald Koeman’s request, the Spaniard has not seen any minutes since his inclusion in the first-team squad.

Moreover, the Dutch manager has now opened the doors for Pena to depart the club. That said, the youngster is actively looking to find a loan move to get more minutes and experience under his belt.

Given the status of both goalkeepers, the Blaugranas are now looking for a new goalkeeper to sign next summer. One of the names that have emerged during this search is that of Luis Maximiano of Granada.

The Portuguese international started five games for Granada this season and has conceded just over one goal per game. He also saved a significant penalty for his side this season.

Despite conceding six goals so far, he has saved a whopping 27 shots this season, averaging 5.4 saves per game — the highest in the league. The 22-year-old still has many years ahead of him and could be a realistic option for the in-transition Barcelona.