- The Colombian joined Atlético Mineiro in mid-August and, just a month later, earned Eduardo Domínguez's trust to become an influential figure in the 'Galo' manager's system.
- After a strong display in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana quarter-final second leg against Santos, the midfielder is dreaming of taking the Brazilian side into another decisive stage of the Great Conquest.
Atlético Mineiro lost the 2025 CONMEBOL Sudamericana final to Lanús in an enthralling penalty shoot-out after the match finished 0-0 in normal time. A year later, the Belo Horizonte side are on the verge of their sporting revenge, with Kevin Castaño once again showing flashes of quality on the international stage. The 'Alvinegro' are already among the continent's final four with one clear objective: to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
The Antioquia-born midfielder, who came through the ranks at Águilas Doradas, has found a new opportunity at Atlético Mineiro to reaffirm the qualities that earned him a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Colombia.
Among Castaño's footballing attributes, one characteristic stands out. He reads the game well, allowing him to make full use of his versatility in midfield: he can provide defensive cover when required, hold on to the ball and slow the tempo when the game calls for a pause, while also joining the attack naturally to offer the 'Galo' another option going forward.
During his year and a half at River Plate — when he joined, he became the most expensive signing in the club's history — the Itagüí-born midfielder made 45 appearances and struggled to establish himself as the focal point of the 'Millonario' midfield under Marcelo Gallardo and Eduardo Coudet. Despite the circumstances, Néstor Lorenzo called him up for the World Cup with Colombia, and the midfielder featured in the 3-1 win over Uzbekistan and the goalless draw against Portugal, coming off the bench in both matches.
After returning from the World Cup, and without making an appearance for River, Castaño joined Atlético Mineiro. His first major show of character came in a high-pressure situation: the 'Alvinegro' were losing to Cruzeiro in the Copa do Brasil quarter-final second leg. At half-time, Castaño and Bernard asked Eduardo Domínguez to switch roles, with the Colombian moving from the flank into a central midfield position. Atlético Mineiro came from behind to win the match and book their place in the next round. “I can have a view on what we can do, but they are the ones out on the pitch,” the manager said after the victory.
His growing influence and positive impact on the side saw him start both quarter-final matches against Santos in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana. The Peixe won the first leg 2-0 at Vila Belmiro.
Castaño made his mark in the second leg, playing a direct role in the decisive moments. With the Minas Gerais side leading 3-2 — a result that would have eliminated them from the competition — Castaño delivered a precise cross for Tomás Cuello to make it 4-2 and force a penalty shoot-out. Gabriel Delfim then produced a superb performance, saving three of the four penalties he faced to send the hosts through to the final four.
Since joining the Brazilian side, the Colombian's fortunes have taken an encouraging turn. He has become an important figure and has embraced the responsibility of providing balance to a team with significant pedigree, which will face Montevideo City Torque, one of the revelations of the tournament in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana semi-finals.
