Samu Castillejo

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Castillejoand 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 (age 28) [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)

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

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	34	1	5	0	—		—		39	1
Villarreal	2015–16	La Liga	28	1	4	0	13 [lower-alpha 1]	1	—		45	2
	2016–17	La Liga	33	2	3	1	8 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		44	3
	2017–18	La Liga	30	6	3	0	5 [lower-alpha 1]	0	—		38	6
	Total		91	9	10	1	26	1	0	0	127	12
AC Milan	2018–19	Serie A	31	4	4	0	4 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	40	4
	2019–20	Serie A	22	2	3	1	—		—		25	3
	2020–21	Serie A	28	1	2	0	13 [lower-alpha 1]	2	—		43	3
	2021–22	Serie A	5	0	0	0	0	0	—		5	0
	Total		86	7	9	1	17	2	1	0	113	10
Valencia	2022–23	La Liga	25	4	1	0	—		0	0	26	4
Career total			236	21	25	2	43	3	1	0	305	26

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

• Serie A: 2021–22 ^[26]

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.

External links

• Valencia official profile
• Samu Castillejo at BDFutbol
• Samu Castillejo at Futbolme (in Spanish)
• Samu Castillejo at TuttoCalciatori.net (in Italian)
• Official website (in Spanish)