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Emotional Castro reflects on nightmare: “Maybe this is where it stops”
🇳🇴 Norway /Sports

Emotional Castro reflects on nightmare: “Maybe this is where it stops”

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Niklas Castro scored Brann’s decisive penalty in a 2-2 match, sending the Norwegian club into the Conference League.
  • The 30-year-old winger said four ankle operations and doubts about his recovery had made the past year difficult.
  • Castro credited his family and friends for helping him return, while VG expert Vegard Leikvoll Moberg praised his response to criticism.

Niklas Castro thought his football career might have reached its limit after his fourth ankle operation. On Thursday, he answered that fear from the penalty spot, scoring the goal that sent Brann into the Conference League.

It is difficult to put into words.

— Niklas CastroHe reflected on the difficult year he spent recovering from ankle problems.

The 30-year-old had spent the past year trying to recover from persistent ankle problems. He said the injury never seemed to heal and described the period as painful and filled with doubts about whether he could return to his best form. “After the fourth operation, I thought that ‘maybe this is where it stops’. It didn’t. We’re here, and we’re going to the Conference League,” Castro told VG.

He said he can now play without constantly thinking about the pain. “I’m glad I can play football. I feel fit and good, and I don’t have the terrible pain I had last year,” he said. Castro added that the experience had changed how he approached the game, teaching him to enjoy each day more because a footballer’s career is short.

I’m glad I can play football. I feel fit and good, and I don’t have the terrible pain I had last year.

— Niklas CastroHe described how his recovery has changed his ability to play and enjoy football.

The recovery also brought criticism. Castro previously said that comments suggesting he would never return to his best form affected him deeply. Before the season, he heard television experts question whether he could regain his level. After scoring twice against Romanian side U Cluj earlier in qualifying, he said it was satisfying to prove those predictions wrong.

After the fourth operation, I thought that ‘maybe this is where it stops’. It didn’t. We’re here, and we’re going to the Conference League.

— Niklas CastroHe recalled fearing that his career might not continue after another ankle operation.

VG expert Vegard Leikvoll Moberg said Castro had turned the criticism into motivation and called it “incredibly impressive” that he returned stronger. Castro said he had taken a walk around Tveitevannet with his partner before the match and hoped he could go to bed with Conference League qualification secured. After the decisive penalty, that hope had become reality.

It is incredibly impressive, and it is so deserved that he is the hero who sends Brann to the Conference League.

— Vegard Leikvoll MobergThe VG expert praised Castro’s comeback and decisive performance.
About this summary

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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