Guadalajara Move For Castillo Collapses

A third attempt by Guadalajara to sign Shakhtar Donetsk striker Nery Castillo has fallen in tatters, with the Mexican club blaming the footballer’s agent for demonstrating a “lack of reliability”. Castillo had been training at Guadalajara with the view to securing a loan deal that would allow him to participate in the remainder of the Mexican Primera Division season and the Copa Sudamericana.

It had been claimed by Castillo’s agent, Juan Carlos Padilla, that the paperwork would be completed and submitted by Shakhtar, but it has emerged that the Ukrainian champions refused to release the player and thus any transfer has now collapsed. A club statement read: "Due to the informality and lack of reliability demonstrated by the representative of the player, in the future there will no longer be any negotiations to get the services of Mr Nery Castillo.”

A lack of first-team action has hindered Castillo’s season and appearances in the Manchester City starting eleven have been far and few between during the calendar year of 2008. Mark Hughes has made it clear that the Mexican has no future in Manchester and has searched for possibilities of ending the year-long agreement. After being cast aside at club level, any call-ups to the national team have consequently dried up but Sven Goren Eriksson – ironically the manager who sanctioned the loan deal when at Manchester City – has summoned Castillo for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Honduras.

It remains to be seen where the forgotten man of Mexican football shall be come the end of January. Remaining at Shahktar Donetsk is an unattractive option for both parties of player and club, so another loan spell seems to be set on the horizon and Real Betis is a probable destination to reignite the career of a fading name. Betis were close to ending Castillo’s English torment last August, but the transfer window finale brought the bitter news that an agreement could not be reached.

Nery Castillo can thrust himself into the headlines by performing emphatically in the colours of his national team and thereby ensuring their progression into the final CONCACAF qualifying stage. A goal or two would act as a timely reminder that Castillo’s light is only temporarily dimmed and whilst the physicality of the Premiership may have proved beyond his capabilities, his talent remains unquestioned and the faithful of Olympiakos would surely love to welcome their former favourite back into their arms.