Santiago Castro has emerged as a shrewd acquisition by Giovanni Sartori for Bologna. While many questioned how Bologna would compensate for the departure of Zirkzee to Manchester United, the club’s management was confident in the abilities of the young striker, born in 2004. Today, his talent is widely recognized. Coach Italiano consistently relies on Castro, and summer transfer offers are anticipated. Castro is attracting attention from clubs in Italy, with Inter Milan reportedly leading the chase among Serie A teams, as well as from Premier League clubs abroad. Bologna currently intends to retain him, but Santiago could become a prominent figure in the national team selection landscape.
WHY SANTIAGO CASTRO COULD BE CALLED UP FOR ITALY – Born in San Martín, Argentina, a town of approximately 30,000 residents in the province of Buenos Aires, Santiago Castro also possesses an Italian passport, making him eligible for a call-up to the Italian national team by coach Spalletti. The national team coach is seriously considering this option. A scenario similar to Retegui’s inclusion is not ruled out, as Spalletti highly values the Bologna striker, particularly for his goal-scoring instincts, as well as his passing ability and ball control. Spalletti is evaluating Castro as a potential addition to the national team’s attacking options. However, at present, the player’s preference leans towards representing Argentina.
CASTRO BETWEEN ARGENTINA AND ITALY – When questioned about his international aspirations, Castro responded, conveying a message to both Italy and Argentina: “I am aware that the level of the national team is exceptionally high, and I know I must work diligently to earn a call-up, but my dream is to wear the Argentina jersey.” Santiago has participated in matches with the Olympic national team but has yet to play for Argentina’s senior national team, making him still eligible for selection by Spalletti. Currently, Scaloni has only included him in the preliminary list for the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil.