He played with Stanciu in China and comes to support him in Cyprus: “A magic player. I would offer him half of my first!” + Memories with Elias Charalambous: “Consider me his boy”
Article by Justin Gafiuc, Cristi Preda (photo) – published Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 18:49 / Updated Tuesday, September 9, 20:49
Romario Balde, 28, was the colleague of Nicolae Stanciu at Wuhan Three Towns. He had Elias Charalambous at Doxa. Yuri Matias tried to attract him to CFR Cluj, but has now become a teammate with Marius Corbu at Apoel Nicosia. The international from Guinea Bissau, with Portuguese citizenship, will be at the stadium in Cyprus – Romania
An unexpected meeting in Nicosia with an attacker who has multiple connections with Romanian football. These are Romario Balde (50 selections/9 goals at Portugal national, U16-U20), Guinea Bissau, African country in which he was born.
Freshly recruited by Apoel Nicosia, Balde divided the locker room with the captain of Romania, Nicolae Stanciu, Wuhan, China. And with FCSB's coach, Elias Charalambous, worked for a short time at Doxa Katokopias, the club before arriving the Cypriot technician in Romania.
“How formidable goal did Stanciu scored with Ukraine!”
– Romario, tell me, please, the impressions you stayed with after the time spent in China with Stanciu?
-It wasn't a long time, but while I was evolving in another team, I watched him and realized he was a magic player. Sensational! The fact that he then played in Saudi Arabia, and is now in Genoa, in Serie A, demonstrates what footballer he is. I don't have to raise him in glory, but he's a truly magical player! I also saw what goal he scored for the euro, with Ukraine: Formidable!
– Was it a surprise to you to discover such a player in China?
– When I was evolving in China, two players caught my attention. It's about Stanciu and the Brazilian Oscar. There is not much to say about footballers like them. You just have to look at them and enjoy the pleasure of having under your eyes like Stanciu.
At Wuhan, Stanciu had Romario Balde among his colleagues
Stanciu is a job. I didn't talk much, but we often communicated on Instagram, Social Media. Anyone to ask you will only tell you beautiful words about it
Romario Balde, striker Apoel Nicosia
“A wonderful passenger! Leave me alone with the goalkeeper”
– Why do you consider a magic player to Stanciu?
– has the ability to put his colleagues in value. Even those who do not catch a good day will play better because of it. Stanciu has this quality. I saw him in a few matches in Saudi Arabia and simply was the one who directed the whole game of Damac. He made that team look different. It helps them to look much easier.
– Was it easy to play on the field with Stanciu?
– I would be able to score 30 goals if I played more time with Stanciu. It offers fantastic passes and would do my job simpler. He left me alone with the goalkeeper.
Romario Balde has collected 19 matches in Wuhan and scored two goals. Photo: Imago
– You should pay half of your salary!
– Ha, ha, ha! If I were to give me decisive passes at 30 goals, I would offer half of the first one every time. “We ask, my friend! You deserve it!”
I hope Stanciu will make a good match against Cyprus and help his country get a victory. He has to do only what he knows best. I wish them much success at national and in series A
Romario Balde, midfielder Apoel Nicosia
“I would say that Romania will defeat, but in football whatever is possible”
Balde believes that Romania should have no problems against Cyprus. Photo: Cristi Preda (GSP)
– What do you think will happen on the field in Cyprus – Romania?
– Romania has a much stronger team, a higher quality. But in football you never know what can happen. If I were to answer now, I would say that Romania will overcome. But a surprise is not excluded!
-However, Romania goes through a tense moment after 0-3 in the friendly with Canada.
– Ok, but it was just a friendly. Things are different in a qualifying match. We cannot compare the moments. Before the start of the season, we played friendly with teams that beat us, but in the championship we win.
“Elias is a type of note 10! He has a brilliant career in front”
Elias Charalambous was prepared on Romario Balde at Doxa, in season 2021-2022, before coming to FCSB / Photo: Cristi Preda (GSP)
– Another connection with Romania: You were prepared for a period at the Doxa by Elias Charalambous, the coach of FCSB.
– It happened to be only three weeks, but it seemed like a very good coach. It took so little because I received a better offer and left. But I felt very good with Elias in those days at Doxa. Consider me his boy! He behaved wonderfully with me, gave me a lot of confidence. I wish them all the best! It does an excellent job in Romania! It holds it!
– Did you continue to follow his activity?
– Yes, I recently talked on Instagram. I wished him a lot of sticks and congratulated him when he won the champion. Elias is a type of note 10 and it is worth the best. A quality, intelligent coach understands his players. For me, this is one of the biggest qualities that a coach can have. Has a bright future in front.
The way Elias communicated was extraordinary, because he respects and understands his players. And this happens because he was a good footballer. Some never played and it will be hard to figure out how a player thinks
Romario Balde, midfielder Apoel Nicosia
“Yuri Matias called me at CFR Cluj, but I had a high salary in Asia”
– You have recently signed with Apoel Nicosia, where you became a colleague with another Romanian: Marius Corbu.
– A young boy, of perspective, hardworking and humble. Helped by these qualities, it can have a beautiful career. And maybe we will see it once at the Great National of Romania.
Yuri Matias wanted to attract Balde to CFR Cluj
– You had, here, enough interesting links with Romanian football. Would an adventure also tempt you in our championship?
– It is never known. I had a friend, Yuri Matias, who recently played there, at CFR Cluj, central defender. He wrote me then to come to Romania, but I was evolving in Asia at that time. I told him I couldn't transfer myself, because I had a good salary and it didn't make sense to leave. But in football, it is never known where your life carries you!
– But it could be an interesting challenge for you in the future.
– Definitely! Ever since I was a child I heard about teams like Steaua București or CFR Cluj. Very good! Maybe the day I will evolve in Romania may come. But I would like to visit it.
“I still dream of meeting Ronaldo, my idol”
The immortal Cristiano Ronaldo has twice registered in the door of Armenia in Portugal's latest match for the 2026 World Cup: PHOTO: Imago
– Finally, two words about your countrymen, Cristiano Ronaldo! Have you ever met him personally?
– No. I was managed a period of management, the company of Jorge Mendes, who works with Cristiano. It was then a chance, but it didn't happen. I still dream of meeting him. It's my idol. I grew up looking at his matches. You can't even find words to talk about such a player. We have to enjoy the last years of his career. It's incredible what he has done so far. And today, when some people offend him, he responds the same: mark! Now he has scored twice with Armenia. He also did it in the final of the League of Nations, with Spain. Without words, man!
– You did not tell us who you will hold in Cyprus- Romania!
– I'll be on the stadium, but I'm caught in the middle. I have club colleagues at the Cyprus national, but I know Stanciu very well. I will only enjoy the match, and the best to defeat!
13 teams It is located on the CV of Romario Balde, including Legia Gdansk (Poland), Academica Coimbra (Portugal), Wuhan Three Towns (China), Gangwon (South Korea) and, now, Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus)
4 selections gathered balde in the national state of Guinea Bissau, zero goals on the active
