Nery Castillo

Nery Alberto Castillo Confalonieri (born 13 June 1984) is a Mexican former footballer who last played as a forward for Rayo Vallecano and played most matches in his career for Olympiacos. As player of national football team of Mexico has played 21 games and scored 6 goals.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Castillo and the second or maternal family name is Confalonieri.
Nery Castillo
Personal information
Full name Nery Alberto Castillo Confalonieri
Date of birth (1984-06-13) 13 June 1984
Place of birth San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Youth career
1999–2000 Danubio
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2007 Olympiacos 105 (30)
2007–2011 Shakhtar Donetsk 12 (1)
2008–2009 → Manchester City (loan) 7 (0)
2009–2010 → Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (loan) 3 (0)
2010 → Chicago Fire (loan) 8 (0)
2011 → Aris (loan) 10 (2)
2011–2012 Aris 20 (6)
2012–2013 Pachuca 13 (1)
2013 → León (loan) 7 (0)
2013–2014 Rayo Vallecano 11 (2)
Total 196 (42)
National team‡
2007–2009 Mexico 21 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 January 2014
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 September 2009

Early years

Nery Castillo was born in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where his father, a Uruguayan professional footballer, had played for the local team of San Luis.[1]

The family moved to South America while Castillo was still a small child. He started playing for Uruguayan side Danubio's youth team. While playing in a Brazilian tournament, Castillo was spotted by scouts from European clubs. He went on to trials with Manchester United,[2] but failed to obtain a work permit and the transfer did not materialise.[3][4]

Club career

Olympiacos

At the age of 16, Castillo's father and agent accepted an offer from the Greek club Olympiacos. Three years after he joined Olympiacos, Castillo became a regular starter in both domestic and European competitions. He became a fan favourite with the Gate 7 Ultras and was even given the number 7 shirt in deference to them.[5] Castillo was part of the Olympiacos squad that won the next three consecutive league titles. He was the club's leading scorer during the preparatory phase for the 2006–07 season, accumulating seven goals in friendly games. He finished the season second to Rivaldo in goals scored and assists for the club, with three goals scored in five Champions League games.

In early 2006, his father and agent began negotiations with the Mexico club Chivas de Guadalajara, but talks were suspended because Olympiacos weren't interested in selling the player at the time.

Subsequently, in 2007, Olympiacos accepted Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk's offer of €20 million for Castillo's services. Before this, in what Castillo correctly anticipated would be his last game for Olympiacos, he scored with a free kick shot, after "stealing" the kick from the teammate who was preparing to take it.

Shakhtar Donetsk

On 31 July 2007, Castillo joined Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk on a five-year contract for a fee of €20 million.[6] This became the most expensive transfer for a Ukrainian club to date.[7]

Castillo scored his first goal for Shakhtar while playing against SV Salzburg in the Champions League. He had only played in a few games for Shakhtar when, in a league match versus FC Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka, Shakhtar won a penalty kick. Castillo refused to give the ball to designated penalty kick-taker Cristiano Lucarelli and took the penalty himself, which was saved by the goalkeeper.[8] Castillo was immediately substituted from the game. Coach Mircea Lucescu commented "What Castillo did, from a professional point of view, I've never seen anything like it before in my whole life. There will be some measures taken against Castillo".[9]

Manchester City (loan)

On 15 December 2007, Castillo's agent told the Daily Mail: "There has been an agreement with Manchester City so that Nery can be with the club for one year on loan so he can prove himself and play active football," adding that City would have an option to buy Castillo once his loan period expires.[10]

Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov stated that City's offer of £1 million was too low, instead offering "a one-year loan – five million euros and there will be no options, meaning a right to buy [Castillo]... If Castillo finds his game ... then in a year we'll decide whether to take him back to Shakhtar or sell. And the price could be 20, or 30, or 40, or 50 million euros."[11]

On 18 December 2007, it was announced that Castillo had signed a one-year loan agreement with Manchester City,[12] commencing on 1 January 2008. Reportedly Castillo was keen to make the move happen and, in a highly unusual move, paid half of the loan fee himself.[2] Sven-Göran Eriksson commented "He was desperate to come to us, desperate to come to England, desperate to come to the Premier League", and said he had never seen a player pay for half the transfer deal himself before.[2]

Castillo played his first game for Manchester City on 5 January 2008 in the third round of the FA Cup, away to West Ham United. However, in the replay on 16 January 2008, his first home appearance for the club, he was stretchered off after 32 minutes with a broken shoulder.[13]

He ended the season with nine appearances, seven of them coming in the Premier League. Failing to secure a place at Manchester City, Castillo returned to Shakhtar Donetsk at the end of his loan in January 2009.

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (loan)

After Shakhtar Donetsk had failed to even include Castillo on the bench for the first two matches of the 2009/2010 season he was loaned to Ukrainian league rivals Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk for a year on 30 July 2009.

Chicago Fire (loan)

On 17 July 2010, the Chicago Fire announced the signing of Castillo as their newest designated player. He arrived on loan with Chicago holding the option to make the transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk permanent. In being signed as a designated player, he became the second youngest designated player in Major League Soccer history.[14]

Aris

Castillo joined Aris on a six-month loan on 19 January 2011.[15] He played his first game for Aris on 30 January 2011, against local rivals PAOK.

Castillo terminated his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk and signed a two-year contract with Aris on 1 July 2011.[16]

He scored his first league goal for Aris of the 2011/12 season on 8 January 2012 in a 1–0 win over PAS Giannina. He scored his first brace in a 3–1 victory over Doxa Drama on 22 January. He scored his second consecutive brace seven days later in a 2–1 win over Levadiakos. Castillo scored again on 5 February in a 2–0 win over Xanthi, bringing his goal tally to six.

Pachuca

On 14 June 2012, Castillo's moved to the Liga MX club Pachuca on a three-year contract. It was the first time Castillo played in the Mexico league after eight years of playing abroad.

León (loan)

On 10 December 2012, Castillo was loaned to Club León for six months, for whom he made seven appearances in total.

Rayo Vallecano

On 9 July 2013, he went to Spanish club Rayo Vallecano on a free transfer from Pachuca.[17]

International career

Choosing nationality

Castillo was eligible for citizenship in four countries; Uruguay because his father is from there; Italy due to his maternal grandparents; Greece because he resided there for more than six years and Mexico where he was born.[18]

His first experience of international football came when he was called up to a Uruguay U-17 training camp. However, he was released after playing a few friendly games.[18] Next the Greek coach Otto Rehhagel tried to secure his services for the Greece national football team.[19] Greece were reportedly willing to pay Castillo $800,000, including fast-tracked citizenship as part of the offer.[18]

Ultimately, Castillo decided to play for the country of his birth and joined the Mexico national football team.

Mexico national team

He made his international debut for Mexico on 2 June 2007 vs Iran, in his hometown San Luis Potosí with Mexico winning the game 4–0,[20] and went on to represent his country in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he scored his first international goal against Cuba, and in the 2007 Copa America.

In the 2007 Copa America, a pre-tournament injury to Jared Borgetti gave Castillo a starting berth,[21] and he scored l in Mexico's first match of the tournament, a 2–0 win against Brazil.[22]

He scored again against Ecuador, as Mexico secured a place in the knockout stages,[22] and scored a brace in the quarter-final against Paraguay, the first goal from the penalty spot.[23] Overall, Castillo was the third highest goal scorer of the tournament with four goals, behind Juan Román Riquelme and Robinho.[24]

After retirement

Following his retirement from football, he dedicated himself to selling fishing equipment and gear in Athens, Greece.[25]

Career statistics

Club
As of 20 July 2015
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Olympiacos 2000–01 1031--41
2001–02 1071--81
2002–03 9371--164
2003–04 26782523911
2004–05 2664150357
2005–06 17252--224
2006–07 251250533515
Shakhtar 2007–08 801051141
Manchester City 2007–08 7020--90
Shakhtar 2008–09 41----41
Dnipro 2008–09 30----30
Chicago Fire 2010 80----80
Aris 2010–11 102--10112
2011–12 20611--217
Pachuca 2012–13 13120--151
León 2012–13 70--2090
Rayo Vallecano 2013–14 11240--152
Total 1964249923626857

International goals
International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 June 2007Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States Cuba2–12–12007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2.27 June 2007Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela Brazil1–02–02007 Copa América
3.1 July 2007Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela Ecuador1–02–12007 Copa América
4.8 July 2007Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela Paraguay1–06–02007 Copa América
5.8 July 2007Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela Paraguay3–06–02007 Copa América
6.1 April 2009Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras Honduras1–31–32010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Club
Olympiacos
Shakhtar Donetsk
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References
  1. "Castillo: We'll be a force in 2010". FIFA. 21 December 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  2. "Nery Castillo: Devil in the detail as Castillo pays for his City break". The Independent on Sunday. London: Independent News and Media. 5 January 2008. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  3. "Castillo vows United revenge". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. 21 December 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  4. "Mexican Castillo joins Man City". CNN. 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  5. "Gate 7 Ultras Olmpiakos". Gate 7 Ultras Olmpiakos (in Greek). Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  6. "Shakhtar have signed Nery Alberto Castillo". shakhtar.com. FC Shakhtar Donetsk. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
  7. "Soccer-Big spending Shakhtar eager to make splash in Europe". Reuters. 14 September 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  8. "Shakhtar – Naftovyk. Nery Castillo stolen penalty". YouTube. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  9. "Castillo boost for Celtic". Sky Sports. 26 November 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  10. Ladyman, Ian (15 December 2007). "Eriksson loves a red-hot Mexican". Daily Mail. London: Mail Online. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  11. "You can have Castillo for a year but you need to pay up, Shakhtar tell Sven's City". Daily Mail. London: Mail Online. 17 December 2007. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  12. "Nery Castillo joins on year-long loan". mcfc.co.uk. Manchester City FC. 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2007.
  13. "Eriksson feels for unlucky Castillo". Manchester City official web site. 19 January 2008. Archived from the original on 22 January 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  14. "Bienvenido, Nery Castillo". MLS Official Web Site. 17 July 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  15. "Nery Castillo", Aris official website Archived 8 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Nery Catillo renovo contrato con el Aris de Grecia hasta el 2013" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Medio Tiempo. (in Spanish) Retrieved 1 July 201
  17. "Castillo: It is a dream to play in Spain". Soccer News. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  18. Zeigler, Mark (6 February 2007). "Castillo pledges allegiance". Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  19. "Greece to call up hot-shot Castillo". Soccerway. 9 November 2006. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  20. "Mexico 4 - 0 Iran". goal.com. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  21. Goodman, Joshua (28 June 2007). "Copa America: Mexico, Argentina reach semis on goal-scoring roll". USA Today. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  22. "Mexico first to reach Copa quarterfinals". Fox Sports. 2 July 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  23. "Mexico hammers 10-man Paraguay". ESPN. 8 July 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  24. "Copa America 2007 Statistics". espnfc.com. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  25. "Ex-Mexico star Nery Castillo retires, opens store for anglers in Greece". ESPN. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
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