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Kolo Muani set for Cagliari return as Juventus weigh Neto re-signing

·By Junior Yekini
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Kolo Muani set for Cagliari return as Juventus weigh Neto re-signing

Juventus/X.com

Randal Kolo Muani will be fit for Juventus' game against Cagliari after hand surgery, while the club weigh a reunion with free agent goalkeeper Neto.

Randal Kolo Muani fractured the proximal phalanx of his right little finger during Sunday's win over Atalanta and underwent successful surgery on Monday afternoon, performed by Dr Loris Pegoli at the J-Medical clinic.

Juventus confirmed in a statement that the Frenchman "will be regularly available", with the club targeting his return for the trip to Cagliari on 11 October, the first match after the three-week international break.

He is expected to play with protective strapping on the finger and is not due to miss any games, having also been left out of France's squad for the break. Kolo Muani has scored once in six appearances this season.

He becomes the fifth Juventus player to undergo surgery since 31 August, following Kenan Yıldız, Khéphren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli and goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, whose torn anterior cruciate ligament, sustained in a recovery session before the Atalanta game, has ended his season early and left the club without a fit backup goalkeeper.

That gap has pushed Juventus towards the free-agent market, with club officials Giovanni Carnevali and Ricky Massara searching for options during the pause. The name currently at the top of their list is Neto, the 37-year-old Brazilian who previously played for Juventus as understudy to Gianfranco Buffon.

Neto has been a free agent since his contract with Botafogo was terminated in June, and has not played a competitive match since 30 May because of a serious rectus femoris injury suffered in Brazil. His representatives have indicated he is open to a return to Turin, but Juventus are weighing the physical risk carefully, wanting a goalkeeper who can be relied on with some consistency rather than one still managing an injury.

Sergio Rico and Alfred Gomis have also been mentioned as alternatives, while 17-year-old Riccardo Radu of the Next Gen side may be promoted to provide additional cover regardless of who else arrives.