Club career
Born in América, Buenos Aires Province, Ustari arrived in Independiente's youth system at the age of 14. The untimely deaths of Emiliano Molina and Lucas Molina – both playing in his position – propelled him to the first team sooner than expected, [2] and he made his Primera División debut on 5 October 2005 in a 2–0 win against Newell's Old Boys, [3] remaining first choice with the Avellaneda side in the following tournaments, under both Jorge Burruchaga and Miguel Ángel Santoro (both former players with the club, the latter also a goalkeeper). [4]
On 10 June 2007, Ustari scored from a penalty kick against Quilmes, also leaving the pitch injured [5] and going on to miss the year's Copa América. One month later, he signed for Getafe in Spain for €4 million, [6] teaming up with his compatriot and goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri. His official debut came on 26 September 2007, in a 2–1 La Liga loss at Valencia. [7] He was first-choice in their runner-up run in the Copa del Rey, including in the 3–1 final defeat against the same opposition. [8] [9] [10]
Ustari struggled during his spell in Madrid, due to inconsistent performances and several injury problems. [11] [12] On 17 July 2012, following a 14-month lay-off due to the latter, he terminated his contract which still had another year running. [13]
On 25 July 2012, Ustari returned to his country and joined Boca Juniors. [14] He moved back to Spain one year later, however, with Almería which had just returned to the top flight. [15]
On 21 January 2014, after only four Copa del Rey matches to his credit, [16] Ustari was released by the Andalusians and signed a six-month contract with Sunderland. [17] He made his debut for his new team four days later, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 home win over Kidderminster Harriers in the fourth round of the FA Cup. [18] He was also in goal in the following game in the tournament, and the result was the same against Southampton, [19] and was an unused substitute on 2 March in the final loss to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. [20]
On 6 July 2014, Ustari returned to his homeland again to play for Newell's Old Boys, agreeing to a one-and-a-half-year deal. [21] On 16 December of the following year, he switched to the Mexican Liga MX after signing for Atlas. [22] On 2 November 2017, in the dying minutes of the 1–1 home draw with Tigres UANL while at the service of the latter club, he suffered an horrific injury to his left knee after kicking a long ball forward, [23] going on to be sidelined for several months. [24]
Ustari took his game to the Uruguayan Primera División in July 2019, with the free agent signing with Liverpool Montevideo. [25] He subsequently represented Pachuca in the Mexican top division, [26] Audax Italiano of Chilean Primera División [27] and Major League Soccer's Inter Miami. [28]
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