Nery the Greek

The day after Uruguay were defeated by Australia, for a ticket to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006, a sign appeared in front of Francisco "Paco" Casal's company which read "Gracias Paco", it was a mockery of the words printed in the Centenary stadium's electronic board years earlier when Uruguay qualified to the 2002 World Cup.

And today with Nery Alberto Castillo's arrival to Phoenix, Arizona, to join up with the Mexican national team for their upcoming friendly against rivals the United States, I too say "Gracias Paco".

It is after all Paco Casal who is indirectly responsible that Nery Castillo has decided to pledge his allegiance to the Mexican National team. Francisco 'Paco' Casal known as the Godfather of Uruguayan football is the owner of Tenfield, a broadcasting corporation which holds the commercial rights to broadcast Uruguayan football.


Casal is also the agent of the majority of Uruguayan players, specially those in the national team. So how did Casa prevent Nery from suiting up with Los Celestes? Let us rewind back to 2001, when Castillo at the age of fifteen having already debuted for Uruguayan side Danubio was spotted by Manchester United talent scouts after competing in a youth tourney in Brazil.

Nery accepted a try out with the Red Devils and since he took the offer without Casal's consent was removed from the Uruguayan U-17 side that was going to compete in the 2001 Sudamericano tourney, hosted by Peru.

Due to work permit problems Nery was not able to remain in Old Trafford, but he did land a contract with Greek giants Olympiacos, it is believed that Casal tried to block the transfer. Nery has remained with Olympiacos for the past seven years where his impressive displays in League and Champions league tourneys caught the attention of ex Uruguayan coach Juan Ramon Carrasco, who tried to cap Nery during World Cup Qualifiers, however Nery turned down the offer.

Instead Nery's father and agent, Nery Castillo Sr, promoted him in Mexico, doing interviews in television and radio with legit proof that his son had been born in San Luis de Potosi, Mexico, where he once played club football.

With the hype surrounding Castillo he received a call up to a Mexican U-23 training camp, which was preparing for qualifiers to the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Olympiacos did not allow Nery to travel which resulted in media backlash, claiming that Nery was using the Mexican national team to get in the spotlight.

Nery would get another national team call up, this time from the Greek Football Federation, which was willing to pay him seven hundred thousand euros and give him other benefits to play for their national team.

However, it would be Hugo Sanchez, the current Mexican national team coach, who would convince Nery of playing for Mexico. Shortly after being appointed as Head Coach Sanchez contacted Nery and made him aware of his intentions to cap him. Nery was motivated to have talked to the Real Madrid and Mexico Idol and willingly accepted putting and end to years of speculation.