Arnaldo Castillo

{{About|the Paraguayan-Chilean footballer|the politician|Arnaldo Castillo (politician)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Arnaldo Castillo

| image = File:Arnaldo_Castillo_O%27Higgins_v_Ñublense_20230728_01.jpg

| caption = Castillo with O'Higgins in 2023.

| fullname =Arnaldo Castillo Benega

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|05|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ciudad del Este, Paraguay

| height = 1.86 m

| currentclub = O'Higgins

| clubnumber = 18

| position = Forward

| youthclubs1 = Universidad de Concepción

| youthyears1 =

| years1 = 2016–2019 | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | clubs1 = Universidad de Concepción

| years2 = 2017 | caps2 = 13 | goals2 = 5 | clubs2 = → Naval (loan)

| years3 = 2018 | caps3 = 22 | goals3 = 9 | clubs3 = → Fernández Vial (loan)

| years4 = 2019 | caps4 = 22 | goals4 = 9 | clubs4 = → Iberia (loan)

| years5 = 2020–2021 | caps5 = 20 | goals5 = 12 | clubs5 = Iberia

| years6 = 2021 | caps6 = 32 | goals6 = 10 | clubs6 = Deportes Puerto Montt

| years7 = 2022 | caps7 = 25 | goals7 = 11 | clubs7 = Universidad de Concepción

| years8 = 2023– | caps8 = 24 | goals8 = 4 | clubs8 = O'Higgins

| pcupdate = 25 December 2023

}}

Arnaldo Castillo Benega (Ciudad del Este, Paraguay;{{Cite web |last=Huerta |first=Rodrigo |date=2021-05-14 |title=De la chacra al fútbol chileno: "A los 10 años caminaba 18kms para ir a entrenar" |url=https://chile.as.com/chile/2021/05/13/futbol/1620860678_716161.html |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Diario AS |language=es-cl}} 9 May 1997) is a Paraguayan-Chilean footballer who plays as a forward and currently plays for O'Higgins of the Primera División de Chile.

Career

Originally from Ciudad del Este, he came to youth football at the Universidad de Concepción in Chile at the age of 17. In 2017 he was loaned to Naval and in 2018 to Arturo Fernández Vial. He then plays two seasons in Iberia.{{Cite web |last=Concepción |first=Diario |title=Vuelve a casa: Arnaldo Castillo estampó su regreso a Universidad de Concepción |url=https://www.diarioconcepcion.cl/deportes/2021/12/16/vuelve-a-casa-arnaldo-castillo-estampo-su-regreso-a-universidad-de-concepcion.html |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Diario Concepción |language=es}}

In 2021 he was announced as a reinforcement of Deportes Puerto Montt of the Primera B de Chile, where he had a great campaign where he scored 10 goals. In December 2021, his return to Universidad de Concepción is announced. In December 2022, he was announced as O'Higgins ' reinforcement of the Primera División de Chile.{{Cite web |last=Madariaga |first=Carlos |date=2022-12-01 |title=Arnaldo Castillo, nuevo jugador de O’Higgins: «Fue el primer club de Primera División que se decidió a buscarme» |url=https://www.adnradio.cl/futbol/2022/12/01/arnaldo-castillo-nuevo-jugador-de-ohiggins-fue-el-primer-club-de-primera-division-que-se-decidio-a-buscarme.html |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=ADN Radio |language=es}}

He debuted with the Rancagua's team on February 6, 2023, in a 0-1 loss against Huachipato. His first conquest with the "Capo de Provincia" came on March 4, 2023, scoring with a header and at 90 + 6 'the final 2-2 draw against Curicó Unido at Estadio El Teniente.{{Cite web |last=Mardones |first=Jean |date=2023-02-06 |title=Huachipato sorprendió con lo justo a O’Higgins en Rancagua y es el líder exclusivo del Campeonato |url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/deportes/futbol/futbol-nacional/2023/02/06/ambos-quieren-seguir-en-la-cima-ohiggins-choca-con-huachipato-en-duelo-de-lideres-del-camp-nacional.shtml |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=BioBioChile - La Red de Prensa Más Grande de Chile |language=es}}

=Eligibility=

Since Castillo has Chilean Citizenship through naturalization principles in September 2023,https://www.diarioconcepcion.cl/deportes/2023/09/20/el-chileno-arnaldo-castillo-baila-cueca-mientras-suena-con-la-roja.html he is eligible to play for Chile and play as a Chilean player at Campeonato Nacional since 2024.{{Cite web |title=Atento Berizzo: Arnaldo Castillo obtuvo la nacionalidad chilena |url=https://eltipografo.cl/2023/09/atento-berizzo-arnaldo-castillo-obtuvo-la-nacionalidad-chilena |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=El Tipógrafo |language=es-cl}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-10 |title=El goleador paraguayo que la rompe en Chile y sueña con la Roja: "Dicen que me parezco a Cavani y Lewandowski" |url=https://www.deportes13.cl/seleccion-chilena/arnaldo-castillo-el-goleador-paraguayo-que-la-rompe-en-chile-y-suena-con-la-roja |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Deportes13 |language=es-ES}}