Santiago Castro interview: “Bologna, Argentina, the market, Italy”

Walking through Casteldebole. Two smiles. And a consideration hanging there, in the land of “if it had happened”. Santiago: but if you had said yes to then coach Spalletti, would Italy be at the World Cup today? Smile. “We will never know…” says Santi, attaching great respect for the blue shirt. Santiago Castro – madly in love with his Argentina, a boy who is climbing the palace of consensus – is no longer the new one who advances but the new one who imposes himself: it’s been just over two years in Italy, from January 2024 to today, 21 total goals at every latitude, the fight and the goals, a center forward who has become “communicative”, one of those who dialogue, “because from Motta to Italiano they taught me the association on the pitch with the team: before I shot straight towards the goal and that’s it…”. Saints: valuable piece, a living painting.

Santiago, how many tattoos do you have?

“Twenty-three. As soon as I return to Argentina I have one to do and one I would like to do…”.

Italian Cup and maybe Europa League?

“Correct. I read that before the double match against Roma, Fede (Bernardeschi, ed.) said: “We want to get to the final”. It seemed like an excess, but then we overcame the very difficult obstacle. I often agree with Berna. The verb “I want” is an obsession, then it is clear that you have to accompany it with constant, hard work. The word alone leads to nothing. In terms of objectives you must always look for everything, even the final and the maximum of the Europa League”.

In super Europe and in Serie A… so-so: why?
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“It’s a mental issue, maybe even tiredness: playing in Europe makes you feel good, at a great level, it’s wonderful, but in the last two months we had played on Thursdays at 9pm and Sundays at 3pm. And in the long run you feel it. It’s not to justify yourself, I say that the mind counts a lot because we’ve always trained one hundred thousand percent. And yet…”.

Is there a field explanation?
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“The really bad period began after the Super Cup final lost against Napoli. Because you’re there, you have a trophy within a centimeter: and if you don’t get it, well, you’re disappointed. And you carry it with you.”

Easter in Cremona: do we need to close a circle – cursed for two months – that opened on 1 December 2025 with Bologna-Cremonese 1-3?
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“It is not the closing of a circle but the beginning of two months which will be the most important of the year.”

Aston Villa or Roma stronger?

“Roma makes you play and dribble more; the other one goes direct, hits you in the heart, is strong, has fast players and is perhaps the real favorite for the final victory. We are the underdogs? Well: we’re there, we’ll see later.”

Against the Villans, there are two knockouts to avenge.

“It’s like this. I remember the September match: I hit the crossbar, we didn’t do badly at all, on the contrary…”.

This time he will see Dibu Martinez.

“It’s true… He didn’t play in that first match: for my brother who would like to become a goalkeeper Dibu is an idol; for me he is a champion but above all a nice person who I met when I was called up by Argentina. The first match is at home: I don’t know why we are struggling at Dall’Ara, I think it’s a matter of the head.”

Curiosity: do you rely on a “mental coach”?

“In September I started having a chat again with Gustavo, a psychologist friend. It’s a good thing, because from the outside it seems that our life is all golden, perfect, safe; and yet we too have needs, doubts, a need for support. Once Lollo De Silvestri, who is a bit like our mental, said: ‘You shouldn’t be ashamed to talk to a psychologist’. In the past I was convinced that I could do everything on my own. But you also need other components if you want to last a long time and at high levels. levels”.
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Many clubs in Europe like you: do you feel like saying that you will stay in Bologna for at least another year?

“There are two months to go until the end of the season and with Bologna I’m feeling great, I feel like I’m in a real family. So today I’m only thinking about this family, but I don’t feel like saying “I’ll stay for many more years” and acting like someone who’s talking just for the sake of talking. You never know about the transfer market but I remind you that moreover I renewed a short time ago, so…”.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, he married Agustina.

“It was something we had wanted to do for a long time: we had a small ceremony because we both have family far away and when we return to Argentina we will have the ceremony in church with everyone, friends and relatives. It’s a big step but I found the girl of my life and it doesn’t always happen…”.

Santiago, his journey speaks of 21 goals. The top?
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“I make the podium: the one against Roma in the Europa League, the one as a heel in Genoa and then together those against Fiorentina and Toro.”

What did Zirkzee and Immobile teach you?
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“To believe in me. Always.”

Do you like the fact that you only know the lineup shortly before taking the field?

“Italiano says it half an hour before the last warm-up. I like it: because everyone must feel important. And whoever comes in later can be even more important than whoever starts: he always says it and it’s very true.”

Argentina is at the World Cup: does the dream continue?

“It continues indeed. Whether it takes two months, a year, three, four or ten, I always have the national team in mind. Everyone knows it and that’s why, thanking and showing the utmost respect for a national team like Italy, I said no.”

Did they ask you for a “yes” after Spalletti?

(laughs) “No, no: if anything the guys here (the comrades, ed.) made some jokes…”.