Samu Castillejo

Samuel "Samu" Castillejo Azuaga (born 18 January 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Italian Serie A club Sassuolo on loan from Valencia.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Castillejo and the second or maternal family name is Azuaga.
Samu Castillejo
Personal information
Full name Samuel Castillejo Azuaga
Date of birth (1995-01-18) 18 January 1995[1]
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Sassuolo
(on loan from Valencia)
Number 20
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)
2018–2022 AC Milan 86 (7)
2022– Valencia 25 (4)
2023– → Sassuolo (loan) 1 (0)
International career
2011 Spain U16 6 (2)
2011–2012 Spain U17 9 (0)
2015 Spain U21 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:17, 18 September 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Málaga

Castillejo was born in Barcelona, Catalonia where his father, a Guardia Civil officer, was stationed at the time; the family resettled in Málaga, Andalusia within a few months.[2] He graduated from Málaga CF's youth system, made his senior debut with the reserves in 2011 aged only 16, and went on to play three full seasons in Tercera División. He was given the nickname El Fideo ("the noodle" in Spanish), due to his "wiry frame and ability to squirm away in tight spaces".[3]

In June 2014, Castillejo was called up by first-team manager Javi Gracia for the pre-season. He was named player of the match in a 3–1 friendly win against Newcastle United where he scored twice.[4] He was promoted to the main squad the following month.[5]

Castillejo made his debut with the first team on 29 August 2014, coming on as a substitute for fellow youth graduate Juanmi in the 57th minute of a 3–0 La Liga away loss to Valencia CF.[6] He scored his first professional goal on 2 February, the winner in a home victory over the same opposition.[7]

Villarreal

Castillejo joined Villarreal CF on 18 June 2015 alongside his Málaga teammate Samu García, signing a five-year deal.[8] He scored six times in his third season, helping his team to qualify for the UEFA Europa League after a fifth-place finish.[9]

AC Milan

Castillejo signed with AC Milan on 17 August 2018, with Carlos Bacca moving in the opposite direction.[10][11] He made his Serie A debut on 31 August, starting in the 2–1 victory over AS Roma at San Siro.[12] He scored his first goal for the club on 30 September, in a 4–1 away defeat of US Sassuolo Calcio.[13]

During the summer 2021 transfer window, following a lacklustre season, Castillejo was a priority sale; despite a number of offers, he and his agent failed to agree on a particular one.[14][15] He was omitted from a 25-player squad list for the UEFA Champions League.[16]

Valencia

On 12 July 2022, Castillejo signed a three-year contract with Valencia.[17] He scored his first goal for the side on 4 September, the third in an eventual 5–1 home win over Getafe CF.[18]

On 1 September 2023, the last day of the summer transfer window, Castillejo moved to Sassuolo on loan with an option to buy.[19]

Style of play

Castillejo plays mainly as a winger on either side of the pitch, although he relies mostly on his stronger left foot.[20][21] He also plays occasionally as a supporting striker or a false 9.[22][23]

Personal life

In June 2020, Castillejo was robbed of his watch at gunpoint in Milan.[24]

Career statistics
As of match played 25 May 2023[25]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Málaga 2014–15 La Liga 34150——391
Villarreal 2015–16 La Liga 2814013[lower-alpha 1]1—452
2016–17 La Liga 332318[lower-alpha 2]0—443
2017–18 La Liga 306305[lower-alpha 1]0—386
Total 9191012610012712
AC Milan 2018–19 Serie A 314404[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 3]0404
2019–20 Serie A 22231——253
2020–21 Serie A 2812013[lower-alpha 1]2—433
2021–22 Serie A 500000—50
Total 867911721011310
Valencia 2022–23 La Liga 25410—00264
Career total 236212524331030526
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearance(s) in Supercoppa Italiana

Honours

AC Milan

References
  1. "Samuel Castillejo" (in Italian). A.C. Milan. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  2. Cañizares, Rubén (6 May 2017). "Samu Castillejo: "Un héroe es Pablo Ráez, no un futbolista"" [Samu Castillejo: "A hero is Pablo Ráez, not a footballer"]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. Cartlidge, David (11 March 2015). "Meet Diego Simeone's favourite player in La Liga (who doesn't play for Atletico)". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  4. "Samu Castillejo shines as Málaga defeat Newcastle United". Inside Spanish Football. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  5. Ballesteros, Jesús (3 August 2014). "Samu Castillejo pide un sitio ya" [Samu Castillejo calls for a place right now]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  6. Rincón, Jaime (29 August 2014). "Alcácer se da un homenaje" [Alcácer pays tribute to himself]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  7. "Samu Castillejo clinches win for Malaga over Valencia". ESPN FC. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  8. "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.
  9. Mateu, Ismael (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.
  10. "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.
  11. "Official announcement: Samuel Castillejo & Diego Laxalt". A.C. Milan. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  12. Paul, Sumeet (1 September 2018). "Piatek paying dividends as Milan win again". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  13. Smith, Jamie (30 September 2018). "Sassuolo 1 AC Milan 4: Suso double lifts under-fire Gattuso". Goal. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  14. Bressi, Stefano (13 March 2021). "Milan-Napoli, Pioli su Saelemaekers e Castillejo: "Possono fare di più" | PM" [Milan-Napoli, Pioli on Saelemaekers and Castillejo: "They can do better" | PM] (in Italian). Pianeta Milan. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  15. De Felice, Alessandro (7 September 2021). "Il Milan rifiuta l'offerta per Castillejo: saltato il trasferimento al CSKA Mosca" [Milan reject offer for Castillejo: transfer for CSKA Moscow thwarted] (in Italian). Goal. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  16. Mork, Martin (3 September 2021). "Milan's squad for the Champions League: Conti, Castillejo and Pellegri out". Football Italia. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  17. "Official statement | Samu Castillejo". Valencia CF. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  18. Chilet, Vicent (4 September 2022). "Vendaval en Mestalla (5–1)" [Whirlwind at Mestalla (5–1)]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  19. "Calciomercato | Dal Valencia arriva Samu Castillejo" [Transfer market | Samu Castillejo arrives from Valencia] (in Italian). US Sassuolo. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  20. "Castillejo: "Qui per vincere"" [Castillejo: "Here to win"] (in Italian). A.C. Milan. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  21. "AC Milan follows Villarreal winger Samu Castillejo". Calcio Mercato. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  22. Manno, Francesco (1 October 2018). "Milan, Castillejo in goal da "falso 9": prestazione super dello spagnolo all'esordio da titolare!" [Milan, goal for Castillejo as "false 9": super performance from the Spaniard in starting debut!] (in Italian). MSN. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  23. "AC Milan star Castillejo: 'Suso doesn't take away my position, I'm waiting for my chance'". Calcio Mercato. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  24. "AC Milan winger Castillejo robbed at gun point". Goal. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  25. Samu Castillejo at Soccerway
  26. "Milan secure 1st Serie A title in 11 years". News18 India. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
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