Castro’s Chiefs future out of Baxter’s hands?

Following up on the Siya crew report last week, that Leonardo Castro was in limbo over his future at Kaizer Chiefs, it is thought that coach Stuart Baxter might not have much of a say on whether the Colombian stays or goes.

Castro was a notable omission from the list of players handed new deals at Amakhosi in January, and this has raised eyebrows given that the striker had just entered the final six months of his contract at the time.

His future hangs in the balance a lot more now… he could very well be a free agent come June 30 because Chiefs, the Siya crew understands, have not yet opened official talks to discuss the way forward.

The current 2021/22 season began with Castro back home in his native Colombia undergoing rehabilitation on a glut tear, and his first appearance was a few minutes away to Maritzburg United late in November.

He then caught COVID and had to miss a couple of games.

Baxter has gradually introduced him back, which shows the coach still has confidence in the player’s contribution this season.

However, Soccer Laduma understands that the Englishman won’t have much of a say in Castro getting a new contract because that decision will be left solely to management under the new synergy of sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr and football manager Bobby Motaung, his older brother.

Baxter may offer input, but with Jnr recently telling journalists that the average age of the squad has to be brought down, it seems as though the 33-year-old Castro is in the firing line.

Chiefs have also failed to register him as a local, although he meets some of the requirements, but to do that, the club would have to give him a lengthy contract to prove to Home Affairs that he is in their long-term plans.