Neto was a starter during the first half of the campaign, scoring his first goal in Serie A in a 1–3 home defeat against A.S. Roma. On 1 February 2013 he moved again, joining compatriots Bruno Alves and Danny at FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. He scored his first goal for the Russian club on 19 May, his team's first in a 3–1 home victory over FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod.