Romain Matthys’s rise at CD Castellón built on hard work | OneFootball

Romain Matthys is central to CD Castellón’s surge, outstanding in the 0-2 win at Leganés and already with five clean sheets from seven, conceding only two. That kept Castellón top.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the Belgian arrived in summer 2025 and swiftly learned Spanish to organise team-mates on the pitch. In a multinational dressing room he also uses French and English, and he speaks Dutch.

He debuted on Johan Plat’s final afternoon after a hip issue, then was undisputed under Pablo Hernández. Including the play-off, he played 40 official games, and remains first choice despite Amir Saipi’s arrival.

More than stopping shots, he starts moves and restarts, creating overloads. The 0-1 at Leganés began with one of his long, accurate passes.

At Butarque he also saved his first league penalty for Castellón, then downplayed it, saying a previous stop pleased him more and that winning matters most. He called it an important win and credited a seven-match unbeaten run to the team’s mentality, always looking to the next game.

At 28, he embodies the modern goalkeeper, as former promotion keeper Emilio Isierte has said, particularly with his feet and involvement. After arriving from the Dutch second division, he noted the higher quality and experience, needed weeks to adapt, and now feels more secure and confident.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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