| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | André Castro Pereira | ||
| Date of birth | 2 April 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Gondomar, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Sporting Gijón | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–1999 | Gondomar | ||
| 1999–2007 | Porto | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007– | Porto | 3 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | → Olhanense (loan) | 56 | (8) |
| 2011–2012 | → Sporting Gijón (loan) | 23 | (3) |
| National team | |||
| 2004–2005 | Portugal U17 | 10 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Portugal U18 | 8 | (1) |
| 2006–2007 | Portugal U19 | 14 | (0) |
| 2007 | Portugal U20 | 6 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Portugal U21 | 19 | (0) |
| 2010 | Portugal U23 | 3 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 October 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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André Castro Pereira (born 2 April 1988 in Gondomar, Porto District), known as Castro, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Sporting de Gijón on loan from F.C. Porto, as a central midfielder.
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Castro joined F.C. Porto's youth system at the age of 11, from hometown's Gondomar SC. In 2007, he helped the team conquer the junior championship.
On 2 February 2008, Castro made his first-team - and top division - debut, replacing Paulo Assunção for the last 11 minutes of a 4–0 home win against U.D. Leiria, and appeared in a further two official games during the season.
In the following two seasons, he played with S.C. Olhanense, on loan, helping the Algarve side returned to the top level after an absence of more than 30 years in his first season, and being named the country's Best Young Player in his second, where he scored six goals in 28 games as his team retained its division status.
Castro returned to Porto for 2010–11, but was soon deemed surplus to requirements by new manager André Villas-Boas, as practically all Portuguese players. In January 2011, after having amassed 106 minutes in six official games, he was loaned to Sporting de Gijón in Spain,[1] making his La Liga debut on the 23rd, playing one minute in a 1–0 home win against Atlético Madrid.
However, Castro managed to feature regularly for the Asturians during his spell, starting in 11 games and scoring against RCD Mallorca (4–0, away)[2] and Getafe CF (2–0 at home),[3] in an eventual escape from relegation.
In mid-August 2011, another loan spell was arranged between Porto and Gijón.[4]
Castro gained 60 caps for Portugal all youth levels combined, including 19 for under-21s.
On 10 August 2011, he was called by the full side for a friendly with Luxembourg, but remained an unused substitute.
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