Juan Musso breaks silence after the play that left Fermín bloodied

The clash between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League delivered high drama—but also one of the most shocking images of the tournament: Fermín López covered in blood after colliding with Juan Musso’s boot.

The incident came at a crucial moment, with the Barça midfielder inches away from scoring a goal that could have completely changed the tie. Instead, his attempt ended in a violent collision with the Argentine goalkeeper, leaving him with a facial injury that reportedly required stitches.

The play immediately sparked furious appeals from the Barcelona bench, demanding a penalty. But for Musso, there was never any doubt: the call was correct.

“How can that be a penalty?”: Musso’s firm defense

Far from avoiding the controversy, Juan Musso addressed the situation head-on after the match. Speaking to outlets like RTVE, the goalkeeper stood his ground:

“I don’t understand how anyone can think that’s a penalty,” he said, insisting it was a natural football action.

The Argentine explained that his only intention was to protect the goal, while Fermín López lowered his head to attack the ball, making the collision unavoidable. He also made it clear there was no malicious intent:

“I would never want to hit a colleague like that,” he stated.

Musso even revealed that his immediate reaction was to check on the Barcelona player, showing genuine concern for his condition after the impact.

The phrase that set social media on fire: “It hurt me”

If the incident itself wasn’t enough, one of Musso’s post-match phrases fueled even more controversy:
“It hurt me.”

Many interpreted it as insensitive, but the goalkeeper later clarified the meaning on social media. According to him, it’s a common expression in Argentina:

“It’s a way of saying you feel the other person’s pain, not that I was physically hurt,” he explained.

The clarification came after heavy backlash online, with some fans criticizing his words. However, Musso reiterated that he apologized to Fermín both on and off the pitch.

Musso hits back at Barça: “Talking about robbery is madness”

The controversy didn’t stop with the incident. Comments from Raphinha, who labeled the elimination a “robbery,” added fuel to the fire.

In response, Musso didn’t hold back:

“It’s madness to talk about robbery. We won on the pitch,” he said, defending Atlético’s place in the semifinals.

Despite the heated exchange, Musso acknowledged the opponent’s quality:
“Barcelona is a great team, we respect them a lot,” he added.

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