Valentín Taty Castellanos (Mendoza, 1998) lives his best hours as a footballer. The Argentine landed in Girona this summer from New York City, a club owned by the same City Football Group, and thanks to his talent and above all his tireless work in every game, he has become one of the fixtures in Míchel's schemes , fashionable coach in Spanish football. Castellanos, whose frustration went viral at the Camp Nou after forgiving a clear goal against Barça, retaliated and in what way by scoring four against Madrid.
Have you assimilated everything that happened in Tuesday's game?
It's still costing me. Having beaten a great team like Real Madrid and doing it this way... We'll need at least two months to assess it and realize the level we were at.
At least he will have slept better than the night of the match...
Yes, it was hard for me because you don't score four goals against Madrid every day. Actually, it's always harder for me to sleep after games and more when we play at night, because my head and body are still agitated. Luckily tonight I already had a better time.
Are those four goals the most important you have scored in your professional career?
Definitely! In the MLS I was able to score a goal poker once, but in the League, against Madrid, with our people... It can't be compared to anything. It was one of the happiest days of my life.
What went through your head at those times?
It was crazy because I really wanted to see the door in a match as special as this one. And also a relief, because a striker always needs to score and I already wanted to do it at the Camp Nou. At the last goal, I even laughed, because I didn't even know how to celebrate it anymore.
Was it your particular way of vindicating yourself?
Yes, football, like life, many times gives you revenge, second chances and luckily I was able to get rid of Barça's thorn. I am always very self-critical of myself, trying to be the best and I felt bad not having been able to help the team that day with a goal that would have also given us victory against another great rival.
After this match he broke down in tears in the locker room and his image went viral...
Yes, I saw the video… I was very upset with myself but luckily I was able to score in the next game against Elche, at home, with the fans, who chanted my name in minute 9. Many people from Girona cheered me on and this too motivates you to continue. I am very grateful to you.
He even closed his social networks. Why did you do it?
It wasn't so much because of the bad or critical messages I might receive, but because I did it for myself, so as not to see the play repeated over and over again. I preferred to disconnect with my people, my family and my friends, and focus on the things that do me good.
With the four goals against Madrid, he has now been wearing the Girona shirt for eleven. Would he have signed them when he signed in the summer from New York City?
Sure, but I'm also convinced that I can do a few more in these last remaining days. I arrived with the illusion of being able to play a lot in one of the best leagues in the world and not only am I achieving it but I have also felt very well in Girona since I arrived.
You are on loan until the end of the season and perhaps matches like this week's can change your life...
I don't know... Right now I'm focused on day-to-day, on finishing the season in the best way with Girona, let's see what position we end up in, no matter how much we already have practically permanence, and we'll see more about the future forward.
But would you like to stay?
For me it's fine. Now you can talk a lot, rumors can appear, but you have to be calm and keep your feet on the ground. The fact that he scored four goals against Madrid is not going to change anything for me, as if there had been ten (laughs). Girona opened the doors to European football for me, I am very grateful to them and I am very happy and happy to be here. We are Family.
And if possible, with Míchel as a technician, right?
He is a spectacular trainer. He has his ideas very clear and it's incredible how he instills them in you, everything he knows about soccer and how to hurt the rival. He has helped me a lot in my adaptation.
