Diego Caballo emerged from Real Madrid’s youth system and played under Zinedine Zidane at the Spanish powerhouse. Now, he will call Sydney FC home.
Sydney have signed former Madrid, Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna full-back Caballo for the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League season, the Sky Blues announced on Wednesday.
Caballo arrives at the Sky Blues from CE Sabadell in Spain’s second tier, where he made 30 appearances and scored once in the 2021-22 Segunda Division.
“I’m looking forward and ready to begin my new career,” said the 28-year-old, who is Sydney’s first new signing alongside the promotion of five youth-team players.
“This will be my first time playing football outside of Spain and it’s a fresh challenge and new experience which has come at the perfect time in my life.
“I understand Sydney FC is the most successful club in Australian football and I know there will be big pressure to win more trophies this season.
“I can’t wait to get started, to meet the members and to play in the brand new Allianz Stadium which I’ve heard a lot about.”
Caballo joined Madrid’s youth setup in 2009 and made his senior debut for the C team in 2013.
He also featured for the club’s reserve side – Real Madrid Castilla, working under Zidane before the legendary Frenchman took charge of Los Blancos in 2016.
In that Castilla team, Caballo played alongside Martin Odegaard, Marcos Llorente, Mariano Diaz and Borja Mayoral.
Caballo went on to spent time with Valencia – where he played with Melbourne Victory midfielder Rai Marchan – and Deportivo’s B teams, before joining the latter’s senior squad in 2018-19.
He called Valencia home at the same time former Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper and current Socceroos captain Mathew Ryan was plying his trade at the Mestalla.
Stints with second-division clubs Extremadura UD and Albacete Balompie followed.
“Diego will give us great strength in depth on our left hand side,” Corica said.
“He’s a player who likes to get forward and gets crosses into the box so he will be a good attacking player for us.
“He is also quick and strong and with an attacking mindset he will be exciting for the fans.
“He has also kept himself in good physical condition since the end of the season in Spain so he will be able to hit the ground running and he’ll be a great addition.
“He’s the first ‘new’ signing, alongside our five young boys we’ve made, and we expect to be bringing in another centre-half, and two attacking players in the final third to complement what we have.”
