CONFIMRED - Rafael Cabral

[Oilroyal]

Courtney picking up snippets of interest from us for Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael Cabral from Sampdoria.

[Esteban]

Interesting. Not sure we would use another loan on a goalkeeper, so could it be a permanent transfer?

Otherwise, the loan move for Virginia is a bit of a waste.

[Snowflake Royal]

Keeper is certainly looking a glaring weakness right now. If we don't sign another I really wouldn't be surprised to find one of our youth keepers first choice by the end of the season.

[Sutekh]

Can’t for the moment believe there’d be any truth in it but there is that Kia link again...

https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/foot ... g-16696294

Far fetched though it might be seen, if there is any seriousness about challenging for promotion within the club this season then I don’t think there’s anyway Reading's current goalkeeping situation would be considered good enough.

[3points]

Could always send Virginia back to Everton if he isn’t going to get any games. Suspect we’re not paying his wages so long as he plays regularly

Notice Southwood didn’t start yesterday. That isn’t a good sign. Same happened to Ward at Northampton last season. Keepers need to starting if they go on loan, not warm someone else’s bench

[Stranded]

Interesting. Not sure we would use another loan on a goalkeeper, so could it be a permanent transfer?

Otherwise, the loan move for Virginia is a bit of a waste.

Looks like any possible deal would be perm as he is seeking a termination of his current contract.

He would be a massive upgrade on what we have at the club now.

[RG30]

Well if Di Marzio was the original source you can guarantee it's got some truth to it as he's the best guy for transfers

[maffff]

Announced his departure from Sampdoria today.

[CountryRoyal]

Yes fcuking please.

[Zip]

If he did sign then it would be an admission that bringing Virginia in on loan as our intended first choice was a mistake.

[Fezza]

He’s played 3 games since 2014-15, is he really the answer?

[Zip]

He’s played 3 games since 2014-15, is he really the answer?

Martinez hadn’t played many games in the past three years and that turned out pretty well.

[From Despair To Where?]

He's also a Brazilian International. Whilst I appreciate Brazil tend to field weaker squads in less prestigious tournaments and can hand out caps like confetti, it's does suggest a significantly higher base level of experience and ability than anyone else currently at the club.

Also, if we are looking at serial bench warmers, I'd rather the bench in question was in Serie A than League 2.

I'm not convinced Virginia is the answer to our current goalkeeping woes (and in fairness, neither are any of the academy keepers in the short term), so if this is a genuine goer, bearing in mind the window shuts in 4 days, I don't see too many better options jumping out at us.

[Denver Royal]

If he did sign then it would be an admission that bringing Virginia in on loan as our intended first choice was a mistake.

Well, maybe so. As you say, Virginia was only on loan.
Always thought if you think you have opportunity to improve a team, then you do it, no matter how well it may have done.
Could be Virginia hasn’t done as well as they hoped/envisaged, (or maybe even if he has), they are being pro-active.
Doubt they are hung up on ‘admissions’, and nor should they be, esp in their situation.
I see them trying to upgrade a position, and thus improve a team.
It’s a continual on-going process, as it is for any club.

[Snowflake Royal]

Virginia is proving to be a very obvious mistake so this would be fabulous.

[Stranded]

Well using the wonderful barometer of social media:

His wife now apparently follows Reading FC on Instagram so this is a done deal.

[mikey0406]

I don’t think there will be many complaints after this week of the transfer business of a team who had their own self imposed ‘soft transfer ban’ if we sign Rafa, a striker and a midfielder....

The pressure will be on José to make sure this team performs.

[Jinx]

Virginia is proving to be a very obvious mistake so this would be fabulous.

So you're writing him off after one game in which none of the goals were his fault? Fantastic

[PistolPete]

Virginia is proving to be a very obvious mistake so this would be fabulous.

So you're writing him off after one game in which none of the goals were his fault? Fantastic

He also let a weird goal in against Chelsea - the Kennedy one.

In isolation the goals might not be worth discussing, but when 3 of the 5 goals give you niggling doubts, it becomes a worry. And yes, let's face facts, he's 19 and never played senior football. None of us are writing off his career, but we are saying that age is a factor, and we'd rather a player who wasn't learning on the job.

And by the way, it's not just the goals, it's the aura he carried himself with - he didn't seem to be a dominant figure in the box or with the defence. He's 19 and new here, that's fair, but it's not what we need!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2MQ2-2oD0I - watch from 4:48, he looks lost. Sorry if you think I'm reading too much into body language!

[Hound]

sounds like there is a strong chance that Rafael is incoming looking at the social media stuff

Interesting, assuming its a perm transfer, and yeah surely means he is coming in to be number 1