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The only way is… back?
He now wears the team’s armband, but is the first to think of a move away from Urziceni. He’s Vasile Maftei, the versatile defender that still plays an important role in Razvan Lucescu’s plans with the national team, who is desperately trying to save his career, as the last season’s runners-up are sinking without trace.
Maftei's looking for a way back, instead of trying to look forward
When the team manager left Unirea he promised Maftei that he’d be the first player transferred and Mihai Stoica proved to be a man of his word. Signed by Steaua Bucuresti, he did everything he could to make this happen: asked the owner to prepare the cash, convinced the coach that he needs such a player and even tried to discuss with the hard-core fans that the former captain of their arch-rivals Rapid will be giving 100% in training and on the pitch, maybe not for the red and blue colors, but at least for the money. Stoica stumbled at the last and most challenging hurdle, in spite of his popularity with the fans, who cannot forget that this was a player that got so carried away when playing against Steaua that he loved the show it through large gestures and not very nice words. The final call came today, from the club’s owner – always desperate to regain the public’s support – who stated that a player cannot be transferred, if the fans give the “go-away” instead of the “go-ahead” signal.
I honestly believe that Maftei feels the same thing like his friend, Mihai Stoica: relief. The problem is that the player has now lost the advantage in the mind-games played with his former and beloved club, Rapid, who would have had some problems if they had allowed the move to Steaua to happen without at least a formal bid, for the return of their prodigal son. Now, he only has to wait and hope that Rapid will sell some players this winter, to get the needed 400.000 Euros for his transfer and also afford at least another 15.000 Euros/month. I, for one, cannot wonder what in the world are his agents doing in the meantime. Judging by his credentials, it should rarely get any easier than this…
Name: Vasile Maftei
Age: 29
Position(s): centre-back, right back, defensive midfielder
Curent value (transfermarkt.de): 1.700.000 Euros
Current asking price: 400.000 Euros
Liga I career: 254 matches / 11 goals
This season: 13 matches / 1 goal
National team: 12 matches / 1 goal
Zhelev and Golanski, released by Steaua
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Zhivko Zhelev
Steaua
‘s ex manager and the former coach of the national team, Victor Piturca, is preparing his return to the Bucharest side. The red and blue outfit already started talks with Otelul Galati for the promising right back Corneliu Rapa and is also looking to add to its roster the Portuguese full back Rui Duarte, from FC Brasov. These two should compensate Pawel Golanski’s departure, but Steaua will be trying to buy at least two centre-backs in the near future, as the Bulgarian Zhivko Zhelev has been informed that his contract will not be extended and he is free to find another club this summer. - Gaz Metan Medias will part ways with Ionut Buzean, a 27 years old left back, who announced today to have reached an agreement with Debrecen and that he will sign a three years long contract with the Hungarian club. Buzean moves to Debrecen on a free transfer.
- Calin Cristea is on FC Vaslui’s shortlist, who offered around 200.000 Euros plus a percentage from the player’s future sale, but, although fair, the deal will not be accepted easily by Unirea Alba Iulia, as the promising left footed mifdielder could draw other offers this summer.
- Official: there will be two transfer windows in Romania next season. The first one: 21st of June – 10th of September 2010. The second: 26th of January – 23rd of February 2011.
Cocis, between Universitatea Cluj and CFR Cluj
- After a turned down offer from the Ukraine Football Federation, Mircea Lucescu has been also offered the chance to become Russia’s national team coach. “Il Luce” has a contract with Shakthar Donetsk until June 2011, but missing the title at the end of the current season could determine the Romanian coach to take up a different challenge, after five years spent at Rinat Ahmetov’s club.
- Ousmane N’Doye (31) says he would agree to extend his current deal with Dinamo, which is due to expire at the end of the season. Read more…
