Valentín Castellanos admitted he wanted to leave NYCFC
The 2021 Most Valuable Player in MLS wanted to join River Plate because that would’ve boosted his chances to receive a call up for the Argentina national team.
Valentín ‘Taty’ Castellanos picked up where he left off last season when he won the golden boot and was voted the Most Valuable Player. The Argentine international has yet to score in his first four appearances in the 2022 MLS regular season, but he has led New York City FC to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League with four goals.
Castellanos wanted to play for River Plate
New York City FC was able to retain ‘Taty’, at least until the summer because several offers came to the table during the winter transfer window. The biggest one was from River Plate and Castellanos was hoping that the MLS side would accept the offer, but they didn’t. During an interview with TyC Sports, the 23-year-old said that playing with River Plate would boost his chances of receiving his first call up to the Argentina national team.
“Obviously it would help. If the head coach of Argentina [Scaloni] knew I was playing for River Plate, one of the biggest clubs in the country, it would boost my chances. They are playing in important competitions like the Copa Libertadores and if I’m playing well there I could’ve received a call up,” said Castellanos.
“Or maybe not, but the truth is that River has been in constant communication with me and my agent. I want to thank them for being so understanding and hopefully I can play for them at one point,” he concluded.