Now it’s official: Gonzalo Castro (34) is back in the Bundesliga and will play with Arminia Bielefeld in the second half of the season to keep the club in the league.
The midfielder, who had been captain of VfB Stuttgart until the summer of 2021, signed a contract in East Westphalia until the end of the current season plus an option. Castro will wear the Arminia jersey with the number 7.
“Many good talks took place and the feeling arose that Arminia needs an experienced player – I can definitely give that,” Castro is quoted as saying in a club statement: “The time is very short, it will be very intensive. With a lot of talks and a lot of training sessions on the pitch, it’s going to be about pushing the boys’ strengths so that hopefully in the coming games it will continue like it did against Bochum and Leipzig.” Arminia picked up six points from their most recent two games.
Head coach Frank Kramer is looking forward to a “very good footballer who is equipped with a lot of experience from all kinds of situations in professional football – he has experienced promotions and European Cup evenings as well as he has come through difficult phases with his clubs.” Castro is expected to help lead the “still relatively inexperienced Bundesliga team”. At his side, young players are expected to develop even faster.
Samir Arabi, DSC’s sporting director, sees Castro as an “important leader”. Castro will get into the action on 28 December, when the preparation for the second half of the season begins in East Westphalia. The veteran could make his competitive debut on 8 January, when the away match in Freiburg is scheduled.
