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Report: Castillo set to move to Monterrey

EdgarCastilloClubTijuana1-Monterrey (Terra)

By DAN KARELL

Edgar Castillo’s time at Club Tijuana is reportedly over.

After spending two and a half years with Club Tijuana, Castillo is set to complete a transfer to fellow Liga MX side Monterrey, according to Goal.com. The 27-year-old was surplus to requirements at Tijuana, with young American left back Greg Garza emerging as a cheaper and better defensive option for the club.

Castillo was a regular starter at left back during his time at Tijuana, from his original loan signing in late 2011 through now. He was a key member of Tijuana’s Apertura title team as well as the deep run made in the Copa Libertadores in spring 2013.

The move to Monterrey was likely a result of transfer speculation around Rayados left back Darvin Chavez, who could move back to former club Atlas. Chavez is also still rehabbing a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee suffered last February.

If Castillo joins Monterrey, it will be his seventh club, all in Mexico, since turning professional in 2006 with Santos Laguna. Castillo has also played for Club America, Tigres UANL, San Luis, and Puebla.

Castillo will have the whole summer to recover and prepare for the 2014 Apertura campaign after he was left off the U.S. Men’s National Team preliminary World Cup squad.

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What do you think of this report? Think Castillo can succeed at Monterrey? Do you like this move? Think he still has a future with the USMNT?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I played against him back in the days of city league in El Paso tx and in las cruces.
    This guy was a beast as forward and center mid, never a defender.
    In Mexico they made him a winger and defender, and he had to do it, in order to make it.
    But in reality he’s a foward, he won’t make it as a foward due to his size but as an attacking winger or center, you will get his full value.

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  2. solid move for him. and opens up a spot for Garza to start at LB.

    wonder if Reyados will use him at LM or LB?

    great player but not really a fit for the National team (or MLS like many are saying) atm.

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  3. Everyone talks about Eddie Johnson, but I always felt that Castillo had a ton more technical ability and energy to offer as an offensive spark off the bench. I’m most surprised he wasn’t in the 30, and thought he could have had a place in the 23.

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    • He can’t defend and he even admits it. That makes him a liability in one direction, and he’s not so exceptional the other way the cost-benefit comes out right, particularly at a NT level where one mistake may be all it takes.

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    • I have been a strong supporter of Castillo, but as a winger or midfielder on the left. He’s one of very few people in the US pool that can beat defenders off the dribble. I always wanted to see Fabian at left back combined with El Homie at left mid, which would force opponents to track back.

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  4. I think Castillo needs to prove himself in MLS to improve his career with the NT. MLS has a lot of quality player who don’t even believe they are quality players and I think Klinsmann has noticed that and that’s why he’s always trying to psych out the MLS guys to get them to believe. Even the WC roster says a lot.

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      • Except I think his combination of interesting attacking skills with a uniquely indifferent approach to defense is more suited to the pass-heavy, possession-oriented, but often more individualistic MFL MLS is more of a team concept league with physical defense, and I don’t think he’d make out well as a passing cone and non-contributor on defense.

      • I wasn’t arguing that. I’m just saying this guy has proven he can do everything except be physical and he’s not going to learn that in Mexico. He’ll learn that in MLS and for Castillo thats his “Next level”. MLS is catching up to the Mexican league and this New TV money plus Orlando, ATL, Miami and NY will really test the Mexican league in every way. I’m not jumping the gun like everyone else but imagine if we stop losing players like Camilo Sanvezzo to Mexico? the new Tv deal will give us enough money not to at least lose players like that

  5. I definatley see Castillo as part of the national team set up in the future. For friendlies, Klinnsmann has a domestic and European team. When we have friendlies in USA he should definately get called. Hopefully, play at LM not LB.

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      • I don’t know how you can play a wing player anywhere behind the forward line who is that big a defensive liability. I mean, players look like they are shot out of a cannon going by him.

        I’m sure one of the reasons he’s developing a lengthy resume is he looks interesting going forward but is a defensive nightmare. Just attractive enough to grab interest but weak enough in aspects of his game to send him on to the next stop.

      • castillo is not a ‘defensive nightmare’. like beasley, he’s actually a better-than-average defender, for an attacker. he’s just not nearly good enough to play on the back line.

        and his hopping around in liga mex really is nothing noteworthy. as in mls, it’s a byproduct of the league’s system. tons of players move around all the time.

  6. with all the tv money were getting castillo could be a great pick up for an MLS club.

    i wonder if the Galaxy would be interested in his services.

    Reply

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