Ones to Watch: Villarreal’s Mateo Musacchio on the cusp of a return - at last!

After what feels like an eternity out injured there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel for Mateo Musacchio. The Argentinian centre back hasn’t played for Villarreal since he fractured his fibula and dislocated his left ankle against Getafe back in April. Yet all signs point to the commanding centre back returning to the fold for this week’s Copa del Rey fixtures. A timely boost for the Yellow Submarines as their league form of late has left a lot to be desired.

Despite being born in the same city as Leo Messi, Musacchio opted to join River Plate’s youth academy as opposed to Newell’s Old Boys. After making his debut as a 16-year-old he later found chances hard to come by and just days after turning 19, signed for Villarreal – well, their reserve side. He impressed during his time there and in February was awarded with a debut alongside current Atletico star Diego Godin. He kept his place in first team squad for the remaining 14 matches of La Liga, starting 5 and appearing as a substitute in 2.

He started the 10/11 season as first choice centre back alongside new arrival Carlos Marchena after Diego Godin was sold to Atletico Madrid. His form captured the attention of then Argentina manager Sergio Batista and he made his debut for the senior side in a friendly against Poland at the end of the season.

Despite his young age Musacchio was beginning to become a key part of the Villarreal side. He learnt a lot from the experienced Marchena alongside him. “He’s a great help,“ he said of the ex-Valencia man. “It’s about observing [him], learning from him. He’s a player with a lot of experience which is always good to have in your team.” And learn he did.

Year on year his defensive partner changed but he continued to be the mainstay of the team. He experienced the despair of relegation with Villarreal in the 11/12 season but didn’t look to bail out of the club. Instead rewarded the faith they’d shown in him and helped them return to La Liga at the first time of asking.

By the 12/13 season clubs from Spain and abroad had begun to take notice of his displays for Villarreal. He was named as one of the best defenders in La Liga and voted Villarreal’s player of the season by the fans. Barcelona were earlier interested in signing him after Carles Puyol’s injury issues became more frequent although Tata Martino’s request to sign him was turned down by the board. The following summer Tata left Barcelona and Luis Enrique was appointed instead.

The interest from abroad came mainly from Tottenham Hotspur as Mauricio Pochettino identified him as their main centre back target. The negotiations were complicated as it was revealed Villarreal only owned 50% of his signature, the only 50% held by his former club River Plate and agent Marcelo Lombilla respectively. Tottenham didn’t want to muddy the waters by dealing with three separate entities so pressured Musacchio’s agent and Villarreal to reach an agreement so the transfer fee could remain respectable. Fortunately for Villarreal fans, no one was willing to budge so the player stayed and Spurs turned their attention to Sevilla’s Fazio instead.

“I’m fine here. I never said I wanted to leave and I never forced the situation. This is my home and I’m comfortable here and for that reason I didn’t feel the need to leave,” he said in an interview once the transfer window had closed. “When you get offers they have to be good for the club and for the player. In this case it wasn’t good enough for either so, in the end, it didn’t happen.”

Not long after Villarreal secured an extra 35% of his signature from River Plate as the two clubs were in dialogue over a dispute about money owed for previous youth products from Argentina. In theory this would make a possible future transfer much easier but Musacchio would never force a move or do anything to upset Villarreal - it’s a club he has a deep affinity with.

Last year his season was disrupted by two major injuries, the latter of which he is only just returning from. In October of 2014 he suffered a thigh injury which kept him out until January and then, as mentioned previously, in April he broke his leg.

He was originally pencilled in to return at the end of October but that was put back with the club unwilling to take any risks of a setback. Every time he was mentioned as being in contention for a game, usually in the Europa League, it was decided it was best to wait. That wait finally appears to be over.

Villarreal, in his absence, don’t have a bad centre back pairing in Victor Ruiz – originally rumoured to be his replacement if the move to Tottenham materialised – and Eric Bailly. You’d expect that Ruiz would be the man to make way if Musacchio comes through the new few matches unscathed.

It’s not just about the quality Musacchio brings to the team but also his experience. He’s an adopted son at Villarreal and everyone is desperate to see him back, winning headers and stopping attacks dead in their tracks. He isn’t the tallest and that is perhaps the only worry you’d have if he decided to move to the Premier League but he’s no slouch in the air either. His strengths come through his reading of the game. Not the fastest but not the slowest – his decision-making is second-to-none and, when fully fit, is one of the best centre halves in the league.

Musacchio and Villarreal’s wait is almost over.