Article by Alexandru Barbu, Răzvan Stamatiu – published Wednesday, 06 August 2025, 15:09 / Updated Wednesday, 06 August 2025 15:11
Present in the studio of the Sports Gazette, Raul Rusescu described the period he spent in Braga, the next opponent of CFR Cluj in the Europa League preliminaries. The former FCSB goalscorer tells how he got to be running by the Portuguese fans.
Rusescu evolved in Braga for 6 months, the second half of the 2013-2014 season, loan from Sevilla. The Romanian has marked 8 times in 20 appearances. In addition, he also signed 4 decisive passes.
Raul also remembers the passion of Portuguese supporters, who reacted violently to a double failure with Rio Ave.
- Tomorrow, from 7:30 pm, CFR Cluj receives the visit of Braga. The “double” between the two bands are held in the preliminary round 3 Europa League.
Video | Braga experience for Raul Rusescu: “cool, beautiful city, but I also received fists and feet in the car”
“The Braga period was cool. A beautiful, rainy city. From December to May, until I left, it rained almost non-stop.
We were also running by supporters there. We were also eliminated from the Portugal Cup, and from the Portugal League Cup, within two weeks, by Rio Ave. It was too much for fans. From the stadium I went out through different parts. They caught us when we left, gave some fists and feet in cars. A younger colleague was scared, the engine died, barely what had taken his permit.
One by one, it was interesting to see how passionate the supporters are in Braga. Such behaviors are not okay, but probably the rivalry with Rio Ave has mattered a lot. There were some traumas from the past, the supporters were upset on the lead, there were several things gathered. Probably they expected to play the final in both competitions, ”said Raul Rusescu, at GSP Live.
“I also received a thanksgiving note”
The triple champion of Romania also recalls beautiful moments spent in the city of northern Portugal:
“I won a match with Vitoria Guimaraes, in which I scored two goals. After the game, I received a nice note with a message of thanks on the car.”
In Braga it was difficult to stay, because I had a clause of about 3 million euros in the loan contract. I did not stay at Sevilla, I arrived at FCSB, where I won 3 trophies in a season
– Raul Rusescu
About Raul Rusescu:
- one of the most important attackers that Romanian football has had in the last 15 years;
- He has played throughout his career such as Unirea Urziceni, FCSB, Sevilla, Braga or Osmanlispor and has gathered 10 presence and a goal in the shirt of the first representative;
- The Golgheter of League 1 in the 2012-2013 edition, with 21 goals, “Raul de Ghencea” won 6 trophies as a footballer, including 3 championships of Romania;
- In 2012, Raul Rusescu wins the “Romanian footballer of the year” prize in the prestigious investigation of the Sports Gazette;
- from February 2024 is an expert GSP live;
- Starting with October 2024, he is one of the hosts of the GSP podcast “2 to 1”.
