Scouting Romania

Zapata can put behind in style a terrible 2010!

Bought for half of million Euros in the summer of 2007, Robinson Zapata was one of the Steaua’s rare succesful buys from abroad. He signed a four years long deal and had no problems in keeping his place in goal, as long as the selection was correct. The signing of the promising Ciprian Tatarusanu for 1,5 million Euros complicated things, though, and Gigi Becali’s pressure on the always obedient coaches paid off, with Tatarusanu taking over from the Colombian goalie and keeping his place in the team even when his performances looked below-par. Named the best keeper in Liga I at the end of the 2008-2009 season, as well as after the first half of the 2009-2010, “Rufay” had to make way for Tatarusanu and finished a terrible 2010 training and playing with Steaua’s reserve team, in the Romanian second division. He was relieved to be released on a free transfer in December, with six months to go on the current deal, and Galata’s interest is a deserved sign of appreciation for an experienced goalie, with a fantastic ability to adjust to new environments far from home & to compete under pressure. Not to mention that a completed deal, which could become reality in a matter of days, as Rufay is expected for a medical in Istanbul, would put Steaua’s management in a bad light once again. But that’s not news or a big surprise anymore…