Horatiu Moldovan, the Romanian goalkeeper who arrived at Atlético in the winter transfer market, has had a difficult experience after leaving the red-and-white club. Moldovan , who arrived at Atlético from Rapid Bucharest for 800,000 euros, had expressed his desire to play regularly. However, his career has taken an unexpected turn since his move to Italy.
During the last European Championship, Moldovan made clear his desire to leave Atlético if he did not find opportunities to play. Although he understood the magnitude of being in Oblak's shadow , the Romanian goalkeeper was looking for a team where he could have more minutes on the pitch. His wish was fulfilled when he was loaned to Sassuolo in the last week of the transfer market, with an option to buy for the future.
An opportunity that doesn't look good
The loan to Sassuolo seemed like a chance for Moldovan to show his quality in a new league. However, his arrival in Serie B has not gone as expected. Instead of getting the starting role he was looking for, Moldovan has found himself in a similar situation to the one he experienced at Atlético.
To date, Moldovan has not had the opportunity to make his debut in Serie B. Instead, Sassuolo's starter has been Giacomo Satalino, a 25-year-old goalkeeper who has played in all of the team's matches. Sassuolo's situation is not ideal either, with the team sitting 13th in the standings, with one win, two draws and one loss.
Moldovan's move from Atletico to Sassuolo has been a significant jump. Going from being a substitute in a Champions League team to being one in a second division Italian team is a situation that did not fit his expectations. At Atletico Madrid, Moldovan did not get any minutes beyond some pre-season friendlies, as Jan Oblak remained the undisputed starter.
Possible opportunity
Sassuolo's recent form, including a 4-1 win over Cremonese, could prompt changes in the squad. Perhaps this defeat will motivate the coach to try out new options in the starting XI. However, until that happens, Moldovan remains short of playing time and faces a considerable challenge at his new club.
Moldovan's situation raises questions about his immediate future. While he had hoped to use his time at Sassuolo as a platform to prove his worth, the results so far have not been as expected. His career continues away from Madrid, facing difficulties in a different league and looking for an opportunity to get his career back on track.