Juventus backup goalkeeper Neto ruled out 30 days with calf injury

Simply because of who is playing in front of him in goal, we haven't seen Juventus backup goalkeeper Neto all that much since he arrived from Fiorentina on a free transfer over the summer. And based on Friday's news regarding his current-day health status, it's going to remain that way for pretty much the remainder of the season.

From Juventus' official website:

Norberto Murara Neto underwent medical checks today after reporting discomfort in his right calf.

The results of the examination have revealed that the Brazilian goalkeeper has sustained a first to second-grade tear of the gemellus muscle, an injury that will keep him sidelined for an estimated 30 days.

Only three Juventus players have played fewer Serie A minutes than Neto this season. Two of them are no longer on the team (Fernando Llorente and Mauricio Isla) and the other is a primavera call-up still in his teens who made a brief cameo at the end of a win two months ago Andrea Favilli). That's not necessarily an indictment on Neto's skill level by any means. But simply the fact that with Buffon being healthy, seeing the Brazilian shot stopper get many minutes was never going to be happening.

Neto, who has made all of one league start, has played in all four of Juventus' four Coppa Italia games this season. He's been relatively solid in those games. Maybe not Buffon-level good, but nothing where he has made us cry out for Juve to go out and panic sign somebody during the next transfer window.

We'll see if this means it will be Buffon starting in goal against Milan in the Coppa Italia final next month. Or maybe Neto will be healthy by then. Just as long as it's one of them playing and not Rubinho. Yeah, we don't want that to happen.