Global, Manchester City, Premier League, South America

Sven-Göran Eriksson’s loan capture of unsettled Shakhtar and Mexico star Nery Castillo grants Manchester City another Latin American talent who has all the capabilities to become one of the Premier League’s top players.

He follows in the footsteps of Elano, the Brazilian who has illuminated City’s season with an array of consummate and technically brilliant performances, in making the voyage from Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk. Yet while Elano shone in eastern Europe before securing a move to warmer shores, it was the cold that ensured Castillo’s stay would be inconspicuous and short-lived with rumours that the weather, along with a lack of first-team opportunities and an attitude that didn’t go down well with Shakhtar’s directors, made a January exit increasingly likely.

Castillo had been in the wilderness up until the summer, when a stunning collection of performances at the Copa América attracted the interests of the scouts, including those at Manchester City. Mexico were unacclaimed and overlooked as the tournament began in Venezuela and coach Hugo Sánchez was reputedly on the verge of losing his job. Castillo’s performances lifted the entire team and saved his coach from an unseemly exit as Mexico finished third.

It was only the second day of the tournament when Castillo demonstrated his keen ability in the shock result of the tournament, El Tri beating Brazil 2-0. The Mexico team proved their aptitude in a perfect response to the disgruntled media at home, but it was Castillo’s wonder strike that stole all the headlines. He expertly trapped the ball on the edge of the penalty area before lifting it over the head of oncoming defender Juan and in the same motion pounced to stroke it beyond goalkeeper Doni. He finished third top scorer with four goals to his name, including two in the stunning 6-0 rout of Paraguay in the last eight.

Castillo has great pace and capacity to be flexible - he can play as an accomplished striker but easily fits in to an attacking midfield line-up

Born in San Luis Potosí to a Uruguayan father and a Mexican mother, Castillo joined Greek outfit Olympiacos at just 16 and spent a mammoth seven years of his life there. Playing in an attacking midfield role, he scored at a rate of a goal every three and half games, totalling 30 in 105 matches. This was after a move to Manchester United fell through when Castillo failed to obtain a work permit. Having now joined one of their fiercest rivals, Castillo will be looking to prove he can make it in England, albeit over seven years after he looked destined to be playing at the top.

With great pace and capacity to be flexible - he can play as an accomplished striker but easily fits in to an attacking midfield line-up - there was little doubt his ability would soon earn him a lucrative move to Europe’s major leagues, but continuing attitude problems at the Greek club put off suitors. However, those issues appeared resolved in the year building up to the Copa América and his superb tournament was put down to greater maturity and focus. Shakhtar came in for him with a massive €20million bid, an offer that proved too good to turn down, although Manchester City were also in the running. His previous failed attempt to join an English club, though, and a superior contract offer from the Ukrainian side swayed Castillo to go east, but it has since been a tempestuous time for the diminutive forward.

He has played only a few games, starting mostly on the bench, and his agent, Jose Luis Padilla, told Mexican television, “There has been an agreement with Manchester City so that Nery can be with the club for one year on loan and so he can prove himself, so he can play active football.”

The last straw came after he missed a penalty which Cristiano Lucarelli was supposed to take in the 1-1 draw with bottom club Neftyanik in the Vyshcha Liha. Manager Mircea Lucescu was left fuming, “There will be some measures taken against Castillo. He’s shown he doesn’t want to play here, and that nothing interests him. That kind of behaviour is beyond all acceptable boundaries.”

There will be an option to make the move permanent at the end of the loan deal and Castillo, depending on his performances, could fetch around €15million with Shakhtar eager to avoid any major monetary loss on a major gamble that backfired. It will be down to Eriksson to deal with Castillo’s fiery temper and stubborn temperament, and to mould him into the complete player. If the Swede can achieve it, he will have one of the most endowed players on hand to help elevate Manchester City up the table and into Europe. Just 23, Castillo’s goalscoring record for Mexico - five in 12 games - intimates he has all that it takes to become a prolific forward in the Premier League, and with the flair of Elano feeding him, it seems Eriksson has formulated a recipe for success.

Will Castillo prove a success at City? Share your views by leaving a comment below.

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