Castro lighting up Leverkusen

Teenager Gonzalo Castro will look to put his considerable talents to good use as Bayer 04 Leverkusen take on CA Osasuna in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals on Thursday.

'Extraordinarily gifted'
Already a German Under-21 international, the 19-year-old is blessed with tremendous skills and a determination to succeed. Invited to train with Brazil at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, he watched Ronaldinho's tricks with the ball and concluded: "If you work hard enough, you can copy them." Such confidence and dedication are typical of Castro, the son of two Spanish parents who nonetheless agreed to play for the country of his birth. Leverkusen coach Michael Skibbe said: "He is extraordinarily gifted when it comes to his football skills, especially considering his age."

Versatile wing-back
Describing himself as "a mixture of Xavi Hernández and Claude Makelele", Castro has played in either wing-back position for much of his time at Leverkusen but is eager to impress wherever, saying: "I don't care where I am played as long as I play. I even played as an attacking midfielder for the U21s." A veteran of 53 senior league appearances, Castro made his UEFA Champions League debut as a 17-year-old in the 2004/05 season and has now played eleven games in the UEFA Cup. Having done so much so young, he has a lot to prove. Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler said: "I expect a lot from him."

'Difficult decision'
The national team share similar optimism about his future, having persuaded him not to play for Spain. "We are very glad to have him," said U21 coach Dieter Eilts. Castro, meanwhile, admitted that he had not signed up for Germany with a light heart. "It was the most difficult decision of my entire life," he said. With the choice made, Castro's ambition continues to fire his progress. He is determined to earn a place in the senior side for the finals of UEFA EURO 2008™, saying: "The EURO is a goal of mine - it would be a dream to be there." He took a first step in that direction as he made his international debut in a friendly against Denmark last week. Once he has finally learned the Ronaldinho trick-book by heart, the world is his oyster.