From rejection to the Premier League: the rise of Taty Castellanos
In short: He was turned away by Argentina's giants, River Plate and Lanús. Yet, the striker who once struggled to find the net transformed into a clinical force, eventually scoring four goals against Real Madrid and securing a move to West Ham United.
The professional journey of Valentín Mariano José Castellanos Giménez is a study in resilience and adaptation. Born on 3 October 1998, the Argentine forward began his career in the Universidad de Chile academy after failing to secure spots at prestigious clubs like River Plate and Lanús. His early years were marked by movement, including a successful loan at Torque in Uruguay, where he helped the side earn promotion to the top flight.
Castellanos found his footing in Major League Soccer with New York City FC. While his 2020 campaign was hampered by the pandemic and a dip in finishing efficiency—evidenced by a gap between his 0.65 xG/90 and 0.40 actual goals per 90 minutes—he rebounded spectacularly in 2021. That season, he became one of only five players in MLS history to net in each of his club's opening four matches. He ended the year as the league's Golden Boot winner, outperforming DC United's Ola Kamara via an assist tiebreaker.
His impact eventually reached the highest levels of European football. During a loan at Girona in 202<0xC2>2, he achieved a rare feat on 25 April 2023, scoring four goals against Real Madrid. This was the first time any player had scored four goals in a single league match against Madrid since Esteban Echevarría's five-goal performance for Oviedo in December 1947. After stints with Lazio, where he became a joint top scorer in Serie A, Castellanos moved to West Ham United in January 2026, marking his arrival in the Premier League.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Taty Castellanos
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