Brighton newest wonderkid Matías Orozco has already identified the biggest challenge he faces in Europe, just days after beginning his loan spell at CD Castellón.
The Seagulls signed the 18-year-old from Deportivo Cali before immediately sending him to Spain for the 2026/27 season.
There is no purchase option in that agreement. This is very much a Brighton development project, with Orozco expected back once his year in Spain is over.
His first impressions suggest the move is already doing its job. Speaking to Win Sports in Colombia, Orozco admitted the intensity he has encountered in Spain is on another level to what he experienced back home.
“The first thing I’ve found here is the intensity. The intensity is much higher than in Colombian football,” he said.
“It’s something to admire. It’s something you don’t constantly see in Colombia, and it’s one of the things I have to work on the most.”
“I feel that’s the fundamental point for me to continue adapting and reach the level I want here at Castellón.”
Brighton youngster already studying the numbers
Orozco isn’t relying on how things feel on the pitch to judge his adaptation. The midfielder revealed he’s already paying close attention to the physical data collected during his work in Spain.
That includes his acceleration, deceleration and distances covered.
“Of course. I’m always keeping an eye on everything with the person responsible for the GPS data,” Orozco explained.
“The accelerations, decelerations, distances, everything. Here we have much more access than in Colombia to look at all of that.”
Of course Orozco has senior football behind him, but he’s still only 18. Getting him accustomed to the physical demands and infrastructure of European football appears to be part of the process. And Castellón have already made an impression on him.
“There’s a specialist for everything here,” he said. “It’s honestly a very big club. You’re surprised just by arriving and seeing the staff, there are so many of them.”
“That can also help me. It can make things easier for me when it comes to specifically improving the things I need.”
Brighton surely has taken all that into account when choosing his destination. The purpose of sending Orozco elsewhere was to see him playing regularly, developing physically and becoming accustomed to a very different football environment.
Colombia already on Orozco’s mind
Orozco has already represented Colombia at youth level, and his move to Europe has inevitably led to questions about the senior national team. Asked how quickly he sees himself getting there, his answer was blunt: “As soon as possible.”
He then acknowledged that moving abroad brings greater exposure to Colombia’s senior coaching staff.
“It’s a huge responsibility,” Orozco said. “It’s every Colombian child’s dream to reach the senior national team, but it’s a very big responsibility. Once you leave the country, you have much more visibility with the senior Colombia coaching staff.”
Orozco isn’t expecting the Brighton move alone to get him there. He knows what happens next depends on what he does with the opportunity he’s been given.
“You also have to take it with more responsibility and be the best you can be, be more responsible in everything. Obviously you have to keep growing, and depending on your growth, doors start opening.”
The presenters jokingly suggested the 2028 Copa América as a target. Orozco didn’t make any grand promise, but he’d already made his own ambition pretty clear. First comes Castellón.
He’ll wear number six in Spain, something he also confirmed during the interview, and the immediate challenge is adapting to an intensity he simply didn’t encounter regularly in Colombia.
Then comes everything Brighton hope will follow. The Seagulls have bought Orozco for his long-term potential, and his first few days in Spain have already shown why this loan makes sense.
