Castanheira: “I want to be the best player I can be and continue to grow and succeed”

By Inter Miami CF

January 27^th, 2021

Goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira became the first non-academy player signed to the First Team from the Club’s USL League One side Fort Lauderdale CF, which is a key element of the clear path established to help young players reach the highest level of the sport.

“It's a great opportunity to be able to join the First Team and I’m really looking forward to joining the group,” said Castanheira.

Castanheira was a vital player for Fort Lauderdale CF in its inaugural season. He made 11 appearances and ranked fifth in USL League One with 44 saves, including the Save of the Week for weeks 2, 4 and 10.

It was a fruitful year for the Landing, N.J. native, as his campaign in USL League One helped him grow as a player and allowed him to breakthrough to the First Team.

Castanheira: “I want to be the best player I can be and continue to grow and succeed”

“The biggest thing for me with Fort Lauderdale was gaining experience. Just putting myself in situations where I was learning and growing from mistakes, playing the games, getting comfortable in game situations, seeing things that you don’t really see at the amateur level and getting used to the speed of play,” he highlighted.

The latest addition to the First Team was especially appreciative of the work put in by the team’s staff that helped him grow with Fort Lauderdale, while also having words of praise for the resources the Club offers to young players who aim to become professionals.

“Getting to work with the amazing staff we had with Jason Kreis, Chris Barocas, Darren Powell, Martin Paterson, Mateus Manoel and a lot of other people was great for my development as well. It’s working with people that genuinely are trying to develop professionals that can play in the next level,” he said.

“The resources that we have are incredible. Everything you need to be the best player you can be is right in front of you. Going into training there everyday is just amazing,” added Castanheira.

The shot-stopper will find himself in a familiar environment, as he gained experience training with the First Team in 2020. After goalkeeper Luis Robles’ injury, Castanheira joined First Team training sessions working alongside Inter Miami’s goalkeepers for the final two months of the season.

“It’s always more comfortable when you have familiar faces around the place. I’m not going into it completely blind and that will benefit me,” he said. “Being able to go into this season having had the experience of working with the First Team last season will only benefit me.”

Despite the jump from USL League One to MLS, Castanheira remains grounded and is looking forward to the work that lies ahead in 2021 in his first season with Inter Miami.

“I want to continue developing, continue to get better and ultimately get myself in a position where I can play in MLS and have a good career for myself. In the next year or so, I want to be the best player I can be and continue to grow and succeed,” he stated.

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