Striker who destroyed Real Madrid has given Leeds hope of signing him
La Liga loanee Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos might have given Leeds United fresh hope of bringing him to the Premier League after making Spanish football history in Girona.
The last time a player scored four goals in a single league match against the giants of Real Madrid – all the way back in 1947 – World War II was only just over and Bing Crosby’s White Christmas was the festive number one.
Taty Castellanos, meanwhile, could be forgiven for feeling as if his own Christmasses had all come at once last month, netting four times in the space of 50 remarkable minutes during Girona’s 4-2 triumph over the 14-time European champions at the Estadio Montilivi.
An instinctive and flexible finisher, Castellanos won the MLS Golden Boot at New York City FC in 2021. He’s taken to life in European football like the proverbial duck to water too; 14 in 33 games for a Girona side who look well-placed to dodge the drop.
Leeds are fans of Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos
Dean Jones of Give Me Sport claimed, before Castellanos headed to Catalunia, that Leeds United were leading the chase for his signature. And side who have found goals increasingly hard to come by during a dreadful season may be tempted to renew their interest. Particularly with Castellanos’ loan deal expiring in a matter of weeks.
“Right now, I’m enjoying things in Europe,” Castellanos tells MLS Soccer, expressing his desire to stay this side of the Atlantic.
“I like it. It was something I wanted to do. To come here and see how I felt. I’m comfortable here.
“The desire to stay in Europe. That’s my idea, honestly. I think I completed a cycle in MLS. (I) would like to keep proving myself in another type of football to keep growing personally.
“After (the season ends) we will see. But I’m really happy here.”
If Sam ‘the firefighter’ Allardyce can airlift Leeds away from the relegation zone, focus will quickly turn to bringing a reliable penalty-box presence to Elland Road. Viktor Gyokeres and Lens’ Lois Openda are reportedly on Leeds’ radar.
NYFC, MLS Soccer say, value Castellanos at around £12 million.
Leeds, meanwhile, face Newcastle United in Saturday’s early kick-off.
