Damian Casalinuovo has revealed his frustration at not getting the chance to change Dundee United’s Europa League fortunes this campaign, prompting him to make the move to Hamilton Academical. The Argentinian striker made a deadline day switch to New Douglas Park, signing a two-year deal with Billy Reid’s team.
Casalinuovo scored eight times in 30 appearances for the Terrors last campaign, coming off the bench in 12 occasions as Peter Houston’s team finished third in the SPL and won the Scottish Cup.
His contribution helped Dundee United into this season’s Europa League, where they bowed out at the play-off stage thanks to a 2-1 aggregate defeat at the hands of AEK Athens.
Casalinuovo failed to get off the bench in either of those games, or in United’s three league games to date, and said he was left disappointed at not being called upon to try and salvage the Tayside club’s European hopes.
“I didn’t doubt it too much,” Casalinuovo said of making the switch to Lanarkshire. “I wasn’t playing at Dundee United and I had been on the bench for five games and hadn’t had the opportunity to play. So I think that this is a great opportunity to come and to try and be a regular every week.
“I think I did really, really well at Dundee United. It was my first season and I was expecting to use that for adaptation, then in my second season try to achieve what I did last season.
“I saw I became an important part of the team but then, at the start of the season, I was on the bench and my frustrations started to come. I know that [David] Goodwillie and [Jon] Daly did great but I think I also deserved a chance because I did well last season.
“I had been with Dundee United for five games on the bench, including the Europa League, and the results didn’t come for Dundee United but I didn’t get the opportunity. So when was I going to play? When the team is winning?
“I don’t like to play the team is winning and try to score in five minutes. Things here will be much different and I will try to compete every week for a place.
“I have been unfortunate but I think now it is a good time to change things.”
The Accies left it late to swoop for Casalinuovo, with the former Velez Sarsfield forward finding out at 5.30pm on deadline day that United had accepted a bid.
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The 23-year-old will now come into contention for Hamilton’s home game with Rangers after the international break and Casalinuovo, who found the net twice against the SPL champions last campaign, says he is relishing the opportunity.
“I scored two goals against Rangers last season,” he said. “I always prefer to play the hard games rather than the easy ones, so I think it will be a great game and a great atmosphere.”
