Samu Castillejo

Samu Castillejo
Personal information
Full name Samuel Castillejo Azuaga
Date of birth (1995-01-18) 18 January 1995
Place of birth Málaga, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current team
 Milan
Number 7
Youth career
2004–2006 Explanada FS
2006–2007 UD Mortadelo
2007–2012 Málaga
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Málaga B 75 (22)
2014–2015 Málaga 34 (1)
2015–2018 Villarreal 91 (9)
2018– Milan 6 (1)
National team
2011 Spain U16 6 (2)
2011–2012 Spain U17 9 (0)
2015 Spain U21 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:50, 7 October 2018

Samuel "Samu" Castillejo Azuaga (born 18 January 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Italian club A.C. Milan.

Club career

Málaga

Born in Málaga, Andalusia, Castillejo graduated from Málaga CF's youth system. He made his senior debuts with the reserves in 2011, aged only 16, going on to compete three full seasons in Tercera División; he was handed the nickname El Fideo (noodle in Spanish), due to his "wiry frame and ability to squirm away in tight spaces".[2]

In June 2014, Castillejo was called up by first-team manager Javi Gracia for the pre-season. He was named Man of the match in a 3–1 friendly win against Newcastle United where he scored a brace,[3] being definitely promoted to the main squad in the following month.[4]

On 29 August 2014, Castillejo made his official debut with the first team, coming on as a substitute for fellow youth graduate Juanmi in the 57th minute of a 0–3 La Liga away loss against Valencia CF.[5] He scored his first professional goal on 2 February, netting the winner in a home success against the same opponent.[6]

Villarreal

Both Castillejo and his Málaga teammate Samu García joined Villarreal CF on 18 June 2015, signing a five-year deal.[7] The former scored six times in his third season, helping to qualification for the UEFA Europa League after the fifth-place finish.[8]

Milan

Castillejo signed with A.C. Milan on 17 August 2018, with Carlos Bacca moving in the opposite direction.[9][10]

Style of play

Although reliant mostly on his stronger left foot, Castillejo is capable of operating on both sides of the pitch, from where he either crosses or cuts into the center of an opponent's penalty box and shoots on goal.[11][12] He can also play as a false nine on occasion.[13]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 October 2018[14]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Málaga 2014–15 34150——391
Villarreal 2015–16 28140131—452
2016–17 3323180—443
2017–18 3063050—386
Total 9191012610012711
Milan 2018–19 610020—81
Career total 131111512810017413

References

  1. ↑ "S. Castillejo". Villarreal CF. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Meet Diego Simeone's favourite player in La Liga (who doesn't play for Atletico)". FourFourTwo. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  3. ↑ "Samu Castillejo shines as Málaga defeat Newcastle United". Inside Spanish Football. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Samu Castillejo pide un sitio ya" [Samu Castillejo calls for a place right now]. Marca (in Spanish). 3 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Alcácer se da un homenaje" [Alcácer pays tribute to himself]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Samu Castillejo clinches win for Malaga over Valencia". ESPN FC. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "El Villarreal CF ficha a los 'Samus'" [Villarreal CF sign the 'Samus'] (in Spanish). Villarreal CF. 18 June 2015. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Ismael Mateu (27 July 2018). "Castillejo: "El Villarreal es una gran familia"" [Castillejo: "Villarreal is one big family"]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  9. ↑ "MILAN, ACCORDO PER CASTILLEJO: Bacca nell'operazione, i dettagli" [MILAN, AGREEMENT ON CASTILLEJO: Bacca in the operation, the details] (in Italian). Calcio Mercato. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "Official announcement: Samuel Castillejo & Diego Laxalt". A.C. Milan. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Castillejo: "Qui per vincere"" [Castillejo: "Here to win"] (in Italian). A.C. Milan. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "AC Milan follows Villarreal winger Samu Castillejo". Calcio Mercato. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  13. ↑ http://www.legaseriea.it/en/match-report-pdf/A/2018-19/UNICO/UNI/7/SASMIL
  14. ↑ "Samu Castillejo". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
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