"Juan Musso is an important figure within the squad and the dressing room. He brings energy wherever it’s needed and contributes much more than just his goalkeeping skills." Diego Simeone didn’t hesitate to praise his keeper on March 2, ahead of the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Barca.
Having had an excellent season as the team’s number two, the Argentine has recently shown he’s fully capable of challenging Jan Oblak. Consistent, agile, and a real asset for the team... Could he already be the alternative to the first-choice keeper, who’s under contract until 2028?
A clean sheet in his first four La Liga matches
He’s coming off an incredible Champions League match against Tottenham. In Oblak’s absence, the Argentine really stood out (8/11 saves), even though the team lost (3-2). A few weeks earlier, he had already impressed against Barcelona in the Cup (4/4 in the first leg, 6/9 in the return), and above all, he’s been solid in La Liga.
Indeed, called upon to replace the Slovenian keeper recently in the league, Juan Musso has added another clean sheet in La Liga. He was outstanding against Getafe (3/3 saves), and had already caught the eye last year against Bilbao (1/1) and Girona (1/1).
However, it’s this season where he’s really made his mark. Stepping out of Oblak’s shadow, he’s becoming more and more of a genuine alternative each week. According to him, it’s because he "gives everything to help this team win and achieve the results they dream of."
What’s more, his stats are better than his main rival’s this year. He’s conceding fewer goals and saving more shots on target. That’s a reassuring sign ahead of a busy end to March and a packed April for Atletico.
A derby to confirm his status
The 31-year-old keeper faces another big test. This Sunday, he’ll play against Real Madrid, with Oblak still sidelined by injury. While facing La Liga’s top teams is nothing new for a player who’s already featured in major Cup matches, it’s still a significant challenge.
In the first derby of the season, Oblak was in goal. Back then, Atletico won convincingly (5-2), but the Slovenian didn’t particularly impress. In fact, his Flashscore rating was just 5.8/10, as he posted a -1.30 goals prevented stat and faced 0.70 xGOT.
Musso is therefore under the spotlight as he looks to keep up his strong run.
While there’s no talk yet of him overtaking his senior in the goalkeeping hierarchy, he’s certainly shaking things up. Simeone is very pleased with his work, his teammates congratulate him, and the fans are confident when he’s on the pitch.
It’s up to him to deliver a strong end to the season and further strengthen his position as summer approaches.