{{short description|Spanish footballer (born 1995)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{family name hatnote|Castillejo|Azuaga|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Samu Castillejo | image = Samu_Castillejo_in_Milanello_2020_(cropped).jpg | caption = | full_name = Samuel Castillejo Azuaga | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|1|18|df=yes}}<ref name=Bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.acmilan.com/it/squadre/prima-squadra-maschile/giocatori/samuel-castillejo/biografia|title=Samuel Castillejo|publisher=AC Milan|language=it|access-date=11 October 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118100320/https://www.acmilan.com/it/squadre/prima-squadra-maschile/giocatori/samuel-castillejo/biografia|archive-date=18 January 2022}}</ref> | birth_place = Barcelona, Spain | height = {{convert|1.82|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name=Bio/> | position = Winger | currentclub = Johor Darul Ta'zim | clubnumber = 70 | youthyears1 = 2004–2006 | youthclubs1 = Explanada FS | youthyears2 = 2006–2007 | youthclubs2 = UD Mortadelo | youthyears3 = 2007–2012 | youthclubs3 = Málaga | years1 = 2011–2014 | clubs1 = Málaga B | caps1 = 75 | goals1 = 22 | years2 = 2014–2015 | clubs2 = Málaga | caps2 = 34 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2015–2018 | clubs3 = Villarreal | caps3 = 91 | goals3 = 9 | years4 = 2018–2022 | clubs4 = AC Milan | caps4 = 86 | goals4 = 7 | years5 = 2022–2024 | clubs5 = Valencia | caps5 = 25 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 2023–2024 | clubs6 = → Sassuolo (loan) | caps6 = 17 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2025– | clubs7 = Johor Darul Ta'zim | caps7 = 3 | goals7 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2011 | nationalteam1 = Spain U16 | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 2 | nationalyears2 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam2 = Spain U17 | nationalcaps2 = 9 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2015 | nationalteam3 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps3 = 4 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | club-update = 28 August 2025 | nationalteam-update = }} '''Samuel''' "'''Samu'''" '''Castillejo Azuaga''' (born 18 January 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim.
==Club career== ===Málaga=== Castillejo was born in Barcelona, Catalonia where his father, a Guardia Civil officer, was stationed at the time; the family resettled in Málaga, Andalusia within a few months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-barcelona-villarreal-samu-castillejo-heroe-pablo-raez-no-futbolista-201705060856_noticia.html|title=Samu Castillejo: "Un héroe es Pablo Ráez, no un futbolista"|trans-title=Samu Castillejo: "A hero is Pablo Ráez, not a footballer"|newspaper=ABC|first=Rubén|last=Cañizares|language=es|date=6 May 2017|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref> He graduated from Málaga CF's youth system, made his senior debut with the reserves in 2011 aged only 16, and went on to play three full seasons in Tercera División. He was given the nickname ''El Fideo'' ("the noodle" in Spanish), due to his "wiry frame and ability to squirm away in tight spaces".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/meet-diego-simeones-favourite-player-la-liga-who-doesnt-play-atletico|title=Meet Diego Simeone's favourite player in La Liga (who doesn't play for Atletico)|publisher=FourFourTwo|first=David|last=Cartlidge|date=11 March 2015|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref>
In June 2014, Castillejo was called up by first-team manager Javi Gracia for the pre-season. He was named player of the match in a 3–1 friendly win against Newcastle United where he scored twice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/118964/samu-castillejo-shines-as-malaga-defeat-newcastle-united/|title=Samu Castillejo shines as Málaga defeat Newcastle United|publisher=Inside Spanish Football|first=Heath|last=Chesters|date=2 August 2014|access-date=30 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140830080503/http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/118964/samu-castillejo-shines-as-malaga-defeat-newcastle-united/|archive-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> He was promoted to the main squad the following month.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/08/03/futbol/equipos/malaga/1407072470.html|title=Samu Castillejo pide un sitio ya|trans-title=Samu Castillejo calls for a place right now|newspaper=Marca|first=Jesús|last=Ballesteros|language=es|date=3 August 2014|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref>
Castillejo made his debut with the first team on 29 August 2014, coming on as a substitute for fellow youth graduate Juanmi in the 57th minute of a 3–0 La Liga away loss to Valencia CF.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2014_15/primera/jornada_2/val_mga/|title=Alcácer se da un homenaje|trans-title=Alcácer pays tribute to himself|newspaper=Marca|first=Jaime|last=Rincón|language=es|date=29 August 2014|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> He scored his first professional goal on 2 February, the winner in a home victory over the same opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-division/match/402427/malaga-valencia/report|title=Samu Castillejo clinches win for Malaga over Valencia|publisher=ESPN FC|date=2 February 2015|access-date=3 February 2015}}</ref>
===Villarreal=== Castillejo joined Villarreal CF on 18 June 2015 alongside his Málaga teammate Samu García, signing a five-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://villarrealcf.es/noticias/portada-ultimas-novedades/item/9770-fichaje-samus|title=El Villarreal CF ficha a los 'Samus'|trans-title=Villarreal CF sign the 'Samus'|publisher=Villarreal CF|language=es|date=18 June 2015|access-date=18 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619020254/http://villarrealcf.es/noticias/portada-ultimas-novedades/item/9770-fichaje-samus|archive-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> He scored six times in his third season, helping his team to qualify for the UEFA Europa League after a fifth-place finish.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com/noticias/deportes/castillejo-el-villarreal-es-gran-familia_1161865.html|title=Castillejo: "El Villarreal es una gran familia"|trans-title=Castillejo: "Villarreal is one big family"|newspaper=El Periódico Mediterráneo|first=Ismael|last=Mateu|language=es|date=27 July 2018|access-date=14 August 2018}}</ref>
===AC Milan=== Castillejo signed with AC Milan on 17 August 2018, with Carlos Bacca moving in the opposite direction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.calciomercato.com/news/milan-accordo-per-castillejo-bacca-nell-operazione-i-dettagli-97440|title=MILAN, ACCORDO PER CASTILLEJO: Bacca nell'operazione, i dettagli|trans-title=MILAN, AGREEMENT ON CASTILLEJO: Bacca in the operation, the details|publisher=Calcio Mercato|language=it|date=14 August 2018|access-date=14 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/media/2018-08-17/official-announcement-samuel-castillejo--diego-laxalt|title=Official announcement: Samuel Castillejo & Diego Laxalt|publisher=A.C. Milan|date=17 August 2018|access-date=17 August 2018}}</ref> He made his Serie A debut on 31 August, starting in the 2–1 victory over AS Roma at San Siro.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/club/ac-milan/103/blog/post/3618878/patrick-cutrone-comes-off-the-bench-to-deliver-ac-milan-win-over-roma|title=Piatek paying dividends as Milan win again|publisher=ESPN|first=Sumeet|last=Paul|date=1 September 2018|access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club on 30 September, in a 4–1 away defeat of US Sassuolo Calcio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/sassuolo-v-milan/2krbe3rlu9n8zr9uelc5d4hgq|title=Sassuolo 1 AC Milan 4: Suso double lifts under-fire Gattuso|publisher=Goal|first=Jamie|last=Smith|date=30 September 2018|access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref>
During the summer 2021 transfer window, following a lacklustre season, Castillejo was a priority sale; despite a number of offers, he and his agent failed to agree on a particular one.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pianetamilan.it/news-milan/ultime-notizie/milan-napoli-pioli-su-saelemaekers-e-castillejo-possono-fare-di-piu-pm/|title=Milan-Napoli, Pioli su Saelemaekers e Castillejo: "Possono fare di più" {{!}} PM|trans-title=Milan-Napoli, Pioli on Saelemaekers and Castillejo: "They can do better" {{!}} PM|publisher=Pianeta Milan|first=Stefano|last=Bressi|language=it|date=13 March 2021|access-date=17 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/il-milan-rifiuta-lofferta-per-castillejo-saltato-il/5jn7hwentjn81t7vto3assatp|title=Il Milan rifiuta l'offerta per Castillejo: saltato il trasferimento al CSKA Mosca|trans-title=Milan reject offer for Castillejo: transfer for CSKA Moscow thwarted|publisher=Goal|first=Alessandro|last=De Felice|language=it|date=7 September 2021|access-date=17 September 2021}}</ref> He was omitted from a 25-player squad list for the UEFA Champions League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://football-italia.net/milans-squad-for-the-champions-league-conti-castillejo-and-pellegri-out|title=Milan's squad for the Champions League: Conti, Castillejo and Pellegri out|publisher=Football Italia|first=Martin|last=Mork|date=3 September 2021|access-date=9 September 2021}}</ref>
===Valencia=== On 12 July 2022, Castillejo signed a three-year contract with Valencia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.valenciacf.com/en/article/en-official-statement-samu-castillejo-2022-07-12|title=Official statement {{!}} Samu Castillejo|publisher=Valencia CF|date=12 July 2022|access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the side on 4 September, the third in an eventual 5–1 home win over Getafe CF.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.levante-emv.com/valencia-cf/2022/09/04/cronica-valencia-getafe-vendaval-mestalla-5-1-75031952.html|title=Vendaval en Mestalla (5–1)|trans-title=Whirlwind at Mestalla (5–1)|newspaper=Levante-EMV|first=Vicent|last=Chilet|language=es|date=4 September 2022|access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref>
On 1 September 2023, the last day of the summer transfer window, Castillejo moved to Sassuolo on loan with an option to buy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sassuolocalcio.it/in-evidenza/calciomercato-dal-valencia-arriva-samu-castillejo|title=Calciomercato {{!}} Dal Valencia arriva Samu Castillejo|trans-title=Transfer market {{!}} Samu Castillejo arrives from Valencia|publisher=US Sassuolo|language=it|date=1 September 2023|access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref> In August 2024, he was fired by Valencia after failing to reach a mutual agreement to terminate his contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/primera/castillejo-se-queda-libre-n/|title=El Valencia despide a Castillejo|trans-title=Valencia fire Castillejo|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Conrado|last=Valle|language=es|date=30 August 2024|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
===Later career=== On 27 February 2025, Castillejo joined Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. of the Malaysian Super League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://johorsoutherntigers.my/welcome-to-johor-darul-tazim-fc-samu-castillejo.jst/|title=Welcome to Johor Darul Ta'zim FC, Samu Castillejo!|publisher=Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.|date=27 February 2025|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>
==Style of play== Castillejo plays mainly as a winger on either side of the pitch, although he relies mostly on his stronger left foot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.acmilan.com/it/news/intervista/2018-08-17/castillejo-qui-per-vincere|title=Castillejo: "Qui per vincere"|trans-title=Castillejo: "Here to win"|publisher=A.C. Milan|language=it|date=17 August 2018|access-date=24 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/ac-milan-follows-villarreal-winger-samu-castillejo-54580|title=AC Milan follows Villarreal winger Samu Castillejo|publisher=Calcio Mercato|date=11 June 2018|access-date=24 August 2018}}</ref> He also plays occasionally as a supporting striker or a false 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/it-it/sport/calcio/milan-castillejo-in-goal-da-falso-9-prestazione-super-dello-spagnolo-allesordio-da-titolare/ar-BBNMjPi|title=Milan, Castillejo in goal da "falso 9": prestazione super dello spagnolo all'esordio da titolare!|trans-title=Milan, goal for Castillejo as "false 9": super performance from the Spaniard in starting debut!|publisher=MSN|first=Francesco|last=Manno|language=it|date=1 October 2018|access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/ac-milan-star-castillejo-suso-doesn-t-take-away-my-position-i-m--90493|title=AC Milan star Castillejo: 'Suso doesn't take away my position, I'm waiting for my chance'|publisher=Calcio Mercato|date=20 December 2018|access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref>
==Personal life== In June 2020, Castillejo was robbed of his watch at gunpoint in Milan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/ac-milan-winger-castillejo-robbed-at-gun-point/16cvmlbq68as61skne2nzb0jd4|title=AC Milan winger Castillejo robbed at gun point|publisher=Goal|date=9 June 2020|access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref> On 1 November 2024 his 28-year-old brother José, who played youth football for Valencia, was confirmed a casualty in the Spain floods.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/futbol/2024/11/01/6724afade9cf4a04348b457e.html|title=Muere a causa de la DANA José Castillejo, ex futbolista del Eldense y canterano del Valencia CF|trans-title=Death of José Castillejo, former Eldense footballer and Valencia CF youth player, because of DANA|newspaper=El Mundo|language=es|date=1 November 2024|access-date=4 November 2024}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 1 April 2024}}<ref>{{Soccerway|samuel-castillejo-azuaga/214374}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !width="40"|Division !width="40"|Apps !width="40"|Goals !width="40"|Apps !width="40"|Goals !width="40"|Apps !width="40"|Goals !width="40"|Apps !width="40"|Goals !width="40"|Apps !width="40"|Goals |- |Málaga |2014–15 |La Liga |34||1||5||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||39||1 |- |rowspan="4"|Villarreal |2015–16 |La Liga |28||1||4||0||13{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||45||2 |- |2016–17 |La Liga |33||2||3||1||8{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||44||3 |- |2017–18 |La Liga |30||6||3||0||5{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||38||6 |- !colspan="2"|Total !91!!9!!10!!1!!26!!1!!0!!0!!127!!12 |- |rowspan="5"|AC Milan |2018–19 |Serie A |31||4||4||0||4{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||1{{efn|Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana|name=ISup}}||0||40||4 |- |2019–20 |Serie A |22||2||3||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||3 |- |2020–21 |Serie A |28||1||2||0||13{{efn|name=UEL}}||2||colspan="2"|—||43||3 |- |2021–22 |Serie A |5||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !86!!7!!9!!1!!17!!2!!1!!0!!113!!10 |- |Valencia |2022–23 |La Liga |25||4||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||26||4 |- |Sassuolo (loan) |2023–24 |Serie A |17||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !253!!21!!27!!2!!43!!3!!1!!0!!324!!26 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''AC Milan''' *Serie A: 2021–22<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/football/ac-milan-secure-1st-serie-a-title-in-11-years-5225965.html|title=Milan secure 1st Serie A title in 11 years|publisher=News18 India|date=22 May 2022|access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{BDFutbol|18155}} *{{TuttoCalciatori|Castillejo_Samuel}} *{{Official website|http://www.samucastillejo.com/}} {{in lang|es}}
{{Johor Darul Takzim F.C. squad}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castillejo, Samu}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen Category:Spanish men's footballers Category:Footballers from Barcelona Category:Footballers from Málaga Category:Men's association football wingers Category:La Liga players Category:Tercera División players Category:Atlético Malagueño players Category:Málaga CF players Category:Villarreal CF players Category:Valencia CF players Category:Serie A players Category:AC Milan players Category:US Sassuolo Calcio players Category:Malaysia Super League players Category:Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. players Category:Spain men's youth international footballers Category:Spain men's under-21 international footballers Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia