Renato Neto


Renato Cardoso Porto Neto is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Belgian club K.V. Oostende.

Football career

Sporting

Born in Camacan, Bahia, Neto started his career in Academia Catarinense de Futebol, a small team based in Santa Catarina where he was spotted by Sporting CP at the age of 16, going on to be part of the club's junior teams that won three national championships in a row.
On 24 May 2009, Neto made his debut for the Lions' first team, playing four minutes in a 3–1 home win over C.D. Nacional after replacing compatriot Derlei. His second Primeira Liga appearance came one year later, against Leixões SC.
After graduating from Sporting's academy, Neto was loaned to Cercle Brugge K.S.V. in Belgium alongside teammate Nuno Reis. In his only full season in the Pro League, he scored four goals in 36 matches as the team finished in ninth position.
In late December 2011, as Sporting was facing an injury crisis in midfield, Neto was recalled by the club's manager Domingos Paciência. In the following summer he was loaned again, now to Hungary's Videoton FC, leaving for K.A.A. Gent in the following transfer window, also on loan.

Gent

Gent acquired Neto on a permanent basis for the 2014–15 campaign. On 21 May 2015, through a penalty kick, he was one of two players on target as his team defeated Standard Liège 2–0 at home to be crowned champions for the first time in their history.
Neto nearly completed a transfer to newly-promoted Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion in 2017, but failed a medical. He missed the entire 2017–18, due to a serious knee injury.

Oostende

On 20 May 2019, Neto joined K.V. Oostende on a one-year contract.

Club statistics

Honours

Gent