Casto (footballer)

Casto

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Personal information
Full name	Casto Espinosa Barriga
Date of birth	(1982-06-18) 18 June 1982
Place of birth	Pueblonuevo del Guadiana, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Almería
Number	13
Youth career
	Pueblo Nuevo
1999–2001	Mérida
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2003	Mérida	7	(0)
2003–2004	Logroñés	0	(0)
2004–2006	Albacete B
2006	Albacete	1	(0)
2006–2007	Betis B	13	(0)
2007–2013	Betis	71	(0)
2013–2014	Murcia	43	(0)
2014–2015	Las Palmas	31	(0)
2015–	Almería	13	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 November 2015

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Espinosa and the second or maternal family name is Barriga.

Casto Espinosa Barriga (born 18 June 1982), known simply as Casto, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for UD Almería as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in Pueblonuevo del Guadiana, Badajoz, Extremadura, Casto spent four years at local Mérida UD all levels comprised, making seven league appearances for the seniors in Segunda División B. In 2003 he moved to CD Logroñés, where he played one season before joining Albacete Balompié in Segunda División, appearing once for the first team during 2005–06.

Real Betis purchased Casto in the 2006 summer, where he initially began as third-choice behind Pedro Contreras and Toni Doblas. With the arrival of Portuguese international Ricardo in the following campaign, it seemed as though he would be provided with little opportunity to shine, even with Contreras' departure. However, after a serious injury to Doblas, he was called up from the reserves; after Ricardo also went down with a minor ailment, he made his debut in La Liga on 16 December 2007, against UD Almería in a 3–1 home win.

In March/April 2008 Casto, who eventually overtook Ricardo as first-choice after the latter's recovery, featured in Betis' first three back-to-back victories in over two years, with wins over CA Osasuna, FC Barcelona and Real Zaragoza. In his first five games Betis won four, with the player keeping clean sheets in three.

As coach Francisco Chaparro stayed on the bench for 2008–09, Casto won the battle for first-choice over Ricardo, being the side's undisputed starter during the early stages, a situation which would revert midway through the season. He was mainly used as a starter after Ricardo's departure to Leicester City, only being overtaken by Adrián in 2012–13.

Casto left the Verdiblancos after his contract expired, and resumed his career in the second level, representing Real Murcia, UD Las Palmas and UD Almería.

External links

• Casto profile at BDFutbol
• Casto profile at Futbolme (Spanish)
• Casto at Soccerway