*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:17, 16 December 2023 (UTC)
Gonzalo "Chory" Castro Irizábal (born 14 September 1984) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a left winger.
He started his career at Nacional, but played mostly in La Liga after arriving in Spain at the age of 22, totalling 296 matches for Mallorca, Real Sociedad and Málaga over 11 seasons and scoring 41 goals.
In 2009–10, Castro finally beat competition from veteran Fernando Varela, starting most of the campaign and scoring six goals in 35 matches as Mallorca finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League (fourth until the last minute of the last matchday). On 23 October 2010 he netted twice at Valencia CF in a 2–1 victory, opening the score with a seventh-minute penalty kick;[5] he scored five times in 33 games during that season, helping his team barely avoid relegation.[2]
Real Sociedad
After leaving Mallorca in May 2012, Castro continued competing in the Spanish top flight, joining Real Sociedad for four years as a free agent.[6] On 19 January 2013, he scored two of his six goals during the campaign[7] to help the hosts come from behind 2–0 and defeat Barcelona 3–2.[8]
Castro appeared in seven out of the Basques' eight matches in the 2013–14 edition of the UEFA Champions League – all rounds included – going scoreless in the process as the team exited in the group stage.[9]
Málaga
On 6 January 2016, Castro terminated his link (which was about to expire) with Real Sociedad and moved to fellow top-tier side Málaga CF for two and a half seasons.[10]