Juventus confirmed on Monday further details of a signing first registered at the end of August, announcing that Serbian centre-back Mateja Lacmanovic has joined on a permanent deal from Red Star Belgrade running until 30 June 2029. The club's statement read:
"A new addition to Juventus's youth sector: Mateja Lacmanovic is a new Juventus player and ties himself to our colours until 30 June 2029.
"A Serbian defender born in July 2009, Lacmanovic is a product of Red Star Belgrade's academy and a regular feature of Serbia's youth national teams. The very young central defender arrives in Turin to strengthen the squad available to coach Padoin. Welcome to Juventus, Mateja!"
The 17-year-old, a left-footed centre-back known for his physical presence and aerial strength, signed his first professional contract with Red Star in April and will join Simone Padoin's Under-20 squad.
Juventus's other pressing business concerns the first team rather than the academy. According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the club are closing in on a short-term return for Brazilian goalkeeper Neto, 37, who is a free agent after his release from Botafogo, to cover for Kamil Grabara following his season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Neto is expected to sign a contract running only to the end of this season, on 30 June 2027, and would serve as back-up to first-choice goalkeeper Vicario, with the club's longer-term plans said to be focused instead on Frosinone's promising young stopper Lorenzo Palmisani.
It would mark a second spell in Turin for Neto, who spent two seasons at Juventus between 2015 and 2017, making 22 appearances and winning back-to-back Serie A and Coppa Italia doubles as well as the 2015-16 Supercoppa Italiana, before leaving for Valencia to pursue regular first-team football.