Photo Credit: Getty Images/Buda Mendes
If there’s one thing Nashville SC’s midfield is, it’s experienced. I’m going to list off a few players, tell me what they have in common. Sean Davis, Anibal Godoy, Jan Gregus, and Dax McCarty. Yes, the sarcastic among you may have identified them all to be Nashville midfielders. The similarity I’m drawing between them right now is their age bracket. Each of them is 30 or older.
It’s no secret Nashville have gotten a lot of production out of MLS veterans with loads of experience. In fact, Nashville has the oldest starting 11 in the league by average age. This isn’t a bad thing, all of Nashville’s veterans seem to have plenty left to give, both to Nashville and the sport as a whole.
But it does mean that over the next few years, you may see Nashville sign players of a younger profile than we’ve grown accustomed to. Mike Jacobs appears to be starting that process now.
There’s been reports of interest from Nashville SC, among others in CD Marathón’s 20 year old midfielder Isaac Castillo. Castillo has made 69 career appearances for the club from San Pedro Sula, scoring 8 times and assisting 6 in 4,601 minutes.
In addition to his club contributions, Castillo has also made 11 appearances for Honduras’ under-20 team, contributing a further 3 goals and 2 assists, this includes starting four games in last year’s CONCACAF U-20 Championship, and starting all three of Honduras’ fixtures in the U-20 World Cup.
To get the fun bits out of the way, I can confirm Nashville has been in contact with Isaac Castillo’s representatives. I learned this by way of an interview with both Isaac and his agent Gio Fonseca. The full transcript is below.
INTERVIEW:
Soundwave Soccer: Isaac, first, congratulations on representing your country at the U-20 World Cup, and scoring. You’ve been linked with a few MLS clubs, one of them being Nashville SC. What do you know about Nashville as a club?
Isaac Castillo: First of all, thank you very much, it’s a privilege to play in a World Cup. And well, regarding the team, I saw some photos and I see a good team, it would be nice to play in any MLS team.
SS: Of the clubs you’ve been linked to, again, among them Nashville, Colorado, and an unnamed Israeli club, do you have any kind of preference on which club acquires your services?
IC: Well, I don’t have a preference, let’s see what’s decided. My agent is the one who takes care of those things.
SS: Nashville uses a 4-4-2 midfield diamond, where do you see yourself fitting in that formation?
IC: I’ve also played in a 4-4-2. I’m used to playing any scheme since I was little my coach got me used to playing several positions.
SS: Nashville has a number of very experienced midfielders such as Anibal Godoy, Dax McCarty and Jan Gregus. If you were to wind up in Nashville, what do you think you could learn from them?
IC: I would learn a lot. It’s nice to learn from experienced players. It’s nice to talk to them and have them advise you as a friend, as a teammate, both on and off the pitch.
SS: Plenty of players have made the move from the Liga Nacional to MLS in recent years, do you see MLS as a destination league for young players in Central America like yourself to further your development?
IC: Of course, every Honduran would like to go play in the MLS and I would like to play and enjoy and first of all. Then, God willing, go to Europe.
SS: Shifting to you, Gio, have you and Isaac spoken with anyone from Nashville?
Gio Fonseca: We have been in contact with numerous clubs recently. Isaac Castillo is currently being evaluated not only by Nashville, but a few others from the MLS as well.
SS: Do you have an idea on what Marathon’s asking price for Isaac might be?
GF: Marathón are an excellent Honduran club to do business with. They understand the US market well, and are very workable when it comes to opportunities for their players to play abroad in great leagues such as the MLS, or the newly established MLS Next Pro.
SS: Of course, and one final question. How likely would you say a summer move is for Isaac?
GF: Isaac Castillo is available now and is open for a move to the US. He’s grown fond of the leagues overall growth in the past few years and would make the most of an opportunity. The time to make a deal for a player such Isaac Castillo is now, I wouldn’t be able to give you this same answer in a year from now.
INTERVIEW END
So that’s what we know for now. Stay tuned to Soundwave Soccer for updates all year long.
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