Alessio Castro-Montes left Union Saint-Gilloise and signed a three-year contract with 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga. After two seasons at the Brussels club, he wanted to extend, but with a wage increase. And that was not in it …
The departure of Castro-Montes went very fast. “Everything went so fast that I have not even been able to visit the stadium,” he says with a smile LDH. The negotiations with Köln had been running for a few weeks, but became concrete in the week of the game against Anderlecht.
Castro-Montes explains: “I first spoke with the technical director, the sporting director and the head of Scouting. They explained their working methods, ambitions and future plans. Then the coach called to show how I would fit into the team.”
The last day of the transfer period caused tension. “I was a bit nervous, because a club can watch another player at the last minute. Everything was arranged on Saturday and I was sitting on the couch against Anderlecht on Sunday. The contract was signed on Monday around noon, officially announced at 4.30 pm.”
Wage increase
The wage at Union was an important reason for departure. “Since my arrival I have won the Belgian championship, the cup and the supercup. I thought I wanted to extend more. Union wanted to extend, but without a salary increase, and I couldn’t accept that,” said Castro-Montes.
Yet he leaves with respect for his old club. “Union has always worked in this way and that has always worked well so far. But I think the club is growing and that some salaries could rise. I did not ask the wages of Club Brugge, but a fair increase. They did not give that, and so the best solution was left for everyone.”
