Raised in the prolific academy of Olympique Lyonnais, Romain del Castillo (Lyon, France, 1996) struggled more than expected to carve out a place for himself in elite football. He was loaned out to clubs like Bourg-en-Bresse and Nîmes in Ligue 2 until a Rennes team playing in the Champions League opened its doors to him. However, he didn't enjoy the expected prominence and, in 2021, took a step back by signing with a Brest side fighting against relegation... a team he guided last season to a historic qualification for the Champions League, proving that he is one of the most talented players in Ligue 1.

Question: First of all, Romain, with only a few matches left, how would you assess this season on both a collective and individual level?

Answer: Personally, I am a bit disappointed because I've had a couple of small injuries. They weren't big injuries, but I've had a lot of little injuries that prevented me from having consistency. For a player, it's important to have continuity. But, collectively, I think we've had a good season. We've played a couple more matches compared to last season, and we’re in eighth place. We had a good run in the Champions League. Despite the small disappointment in the Coupe de France, even though we had a good run, we expected to get through against Dunkerque. But I think we had a very good season.

Question: I imagine that everyone was aware before the season started that repeating last year's successes would be very difficult. However, do you feel like you are getting the recognition you deserve in France?

Answer: Yes, I think that compared to last season, there has been a lot of talk about us. Some even say it’s possible that we’ll finish in the Champions League. I think we’ve had a good run and a good performance. Yes, we’ve received recognition. I’m not sure if it’s enough or not. But we’re focused on the pitch. So we’re doing well.

Question: You lost some key players in the summer and couldn’t make any major signings. What were the real objectives you set for yourselves at the start of the season?

Answer: I think we don’t have real objectives, but we’re progressing step by step. For example, at the start of the season, we started well in the Champions League. Every match we played, we aimed to win. We don’t have specific goals, but we’re making progress.

Question: Still, you’re fighting in the final part of the season to qualify for European competitions again. After a very demanding season due to the number of matches, do you feel strong enough to achieve this goal?

Answer: Yes, of course. Now that we have one match per week, our bodies have been able to rest. So now we’re going to give everything to qualify for European competitions.

Question: What you achieved last year by qualifying Brest for the Champions League for the first time was historic. But how has it been to play matches away from your stadium and fans?

Answer: At first, during the first week, we didn’t know what was going to happen. The staff were an hour away and had to leave work a bit earlier. We didn’t know if they would make it to the stadium for the match. But then, when we arrived and played the first match, we saw that it was going to be extraordinary. The crowd turned out in huge numbers, and all the tickets for the matches were sold. That helped us a lot in this competition.

Question: Even so, you were one of the big surprises during the first phase of the Champions League. Do you think you were underrated because you were new to the Champions League?

Answer: I don’t know if we were underrated. I’m not sure if every time a big team plays against a smaller team, they underestimate them. But I think the fact that this competition format existed meant that the big teams weren’t as prepared, and that helped us more. With this format, the big teams were a bit unsettled, and we were able to take advantage of that to play our cards.

Question: You were one of the few players with Champions League experience after your time at Rennes, where the rivalry is intense. Back then, you decided to take a step back by signing with Brest. However, in terms of the club and project, do you think you’re now ahead of Rennes?

Answer: Yes, I had the opportunity to play with Rennes. But it was during the pandemic, so it was a very strange time. But now, I think I made a good decision. After all, comparing Brest and Rennes, we know Rennes is in a transition phase. They’ve lost a lot of players, and we’re in a phase where everything is going well. So it’s our job to work correctly to keep it that way.

Question: You arrived at Brest when the team was fighting to avoid relegation. But the arrival of Éric Roy in 2023 completely changed the project. For you personally, how important has Éric Roy been in shaping you into the player we see today?

Answer: He gave me confidence. And above all, he gave confidence to the whole team. When the entire team has confidence, it’s obvious that it helps everyone individually, and it allows us to reflect that on the pitch and dare to try more things. It’s a collective thing, and that’s something that’s helped me a lot. It was something we were missing, but when we got it, everything started to go well. That’s what happened when he arrived.

Question: Juninho was the best free-kick taker in the history of Ligue 1. But since your arrival, Brest has scored 49 goals from set pieces. You’re a specialist. Was he one of your role models when you were in the Olympique Lyonnais academy?

Answer: Yes, and I even had the chance to meet him. But he’s just a model, because it’s impossible to copy his skill, his talent, and his style. I don’t take free-kicks like him. It’s very difficult to shoot like him. But, to be honest, I’ve watched all of his matches at Lyon. I was a big admirer of him, and that maybe helped me.

Question: After all the difficulties you’ve had to overcome throughout your career, did you ever imagine playing again in the Champions League against teams like Real Madrid or Barcelona? Did you ever lose your passion for football?

Answer: I never got to that point. I love football more than anything in the world. That’s why I never got to that point. Maybe at the start of my career, it was a very high goal. But then, when I was able to play in the Champions League with Rennes, I wanted to play in it again. I think it’s a goal that all players have.

Question: You also had to face PSG in the ‘playoff’ round, a team that knows you well from Ligue 1. Do you feel that the result could have been different if you had played against a team that didn’t know you as well?

Answer: I don’t know, the uncertainty in football is what makes this sport so beautiful. We’re never sure who will win. But, in addition to not knowing us very well, the reality is that this year they have an incredible team.

Question: Regarding PSG, since you know them well, do you think this is the year they are closest to winning the Champions League? What has changed in how you play against them compared to previous seasons?

Answer: You never know. With the level there is and all the teams left... in a two-legged tie, anything can happen. I think it’s very difficult to win it this season, although that doesn’t mean they can’t win it. But when we played against them, it was clear that the team’s characteristics had changed.

Question: You’re still 29 years old, and I imagine you’ve received offers to leave Brest. Have you felt curious about trying new experiences, even outside of France... or are you clear that you want to keep expanding your legend at Brest?

Answer: What I’m sure of is that I’m happy at Brest. But I don’t close any doors. We’ll see what happens next season. But I’m sure that I’m in a good place at Brest and that I’m doing a good job here.

Question: You have Spanish roots. Has there ever been the possibility of playing in Spain, or have you never considered it?

Answer: I’m sure the Spanish league is a top-level competition, and I really enjoy watching it. But I’ve never had concrete offers.

Question: When you were at Olympique Lyonnais, you were a regular player in France’s youth teams alongside Upamecano, Konaté, or Marcus Thuram. Do you still hold on to the hope of one day playing for the national team? Is it the big dream that’s yet to be fulfilled in your career?

Answer: Yes, it’s the biggest dream of my career. But there are many high-level players in the French team. I work to be the best on the field. So we’ll see. We know that to be called up, you need to play regularly in the Champions League. So, you need to be at that level to aspire to more.