3 years on the cough, “blocked” by Hagi for 250,000 euros, now goalscorer in Romania

“Many people do not know what we went through,” says Măgerușan in opening the dialogue. After describing his route, I realize that it would be a euphemism to say that it has gone through many. At 26, the Bistrita striker had to face obstacles and misfortunes that would bring down the most powerful people.

3 operations at the same knee, 3 and a half years without official matchbut an unseen appetite for goals, for the satisfaction of being in the right place at the right time. Here is the story of the most effective Romanian striker of the moment: 8 goals and two decisive passes in 7 matches!

Cristian Măgerușan is the goalscorer of the second league // Photo source: Facebook @ Come on football

Măgerușan was only 13 years old when he joined the borders of his parents, moved to Ireland. The last years of the “Romanian” junior, before moving, spent at the “Gheorghe Hagi” Academy, respectively at CFR Cluj.

“In Ireland I went to football from 13-14 years old, practically more I did there. The first thing they told me was that we have two workouts a week. I was thinking: «What do you mean two workouts? How do you become a footballer with only two workouts a week?! »”, Măgerușan remembers.

“I had an offer from Sheffield, but I was told that Hagi demanded a compensation of 250 thousand euros.”

The junior did at Lucan United, and in those years he had experiences, tests, training courses including in England. Impressed in the tests at Sheffield United, a contract was proposed, but The financial claims of the Hagi Academy, where it had been formed between 10 and 12 years old, blocked everything. At least that's how persons involved in backstage discussions transmitted:

“I gave tests at several clubs: Liverpool, Brighton, Bournemouth, Swindon. At the age of 15, I even training with Swindon's first team, with the seniors, who were in the third league. But I was told that Hagi demanded a compensation of 200 or 250 thousand euros, so I did not reach anywhere.

I had a concrete offer from Sheffield United. I had been top in the samples, two goals, 1 assist, but Then they came to me and told me that there were some problems with Hagi. From what they sent me, they would have requested 250,000 euros. That's what they told me, I can't understand why they ask for such a big amount. “

1254 days without match played

Bohemiansteam of the first league in Ireland, he managed what she could not – to get his signature, when Cristian was 16 years old.

But the debut was postponed by misfortunes in the chain: 3 metatarsal ruptures, the third time with the need for surgery. He exceeded them, made his debut in seniors with goal, played a few more matches and then received the first serious blow: Rupture of the anterior cross ligament of the left knee, accident that he would suffer and the second time! The third of the operations was arthroscopic cleaning.

“3 and a half years I did not play at all, I had 3 operations on the same knee, the left. I really noted my data, the interval in which I did not play: it was 1254 days! Two of the operations were ligament, I did them in Ireland. For the third I came to Romania, in Sibiu.

I didn't trust them anymore and I came here, but it was hard. It had to have stayed for 3 months and in the end I stayed 6! I had returned to workouts and felt that something was not good, it hurt me, the knee was swollen …

After the operations, the first 2 years were very hard. We were playing 2-3 matches, then the problems were returning. In the first year after the return I played 10 matches, in the second about 20, and in the third season, with the matches at Steaua, about 40, ”he says.

After restoration he gradually returned to what his new team had become, Longford Townand in season 2024 went to Bray Wandererswhere he could take a rhythm and replied with 11 goals in 31 parties. In parallel with football he worked “about 3 years as a personal trainer”.

6 months at Steaua: The club didn't want to extend the contract

At the end of 2024, when the championship in Ireland ended, he decided that the time was to change the landscape and ran to an offer from Romania, from the second division of Steaua București.

Initially signed for 6 months, with extension option that the club later decided not to activate.

Although he did not feel comfortable in the Steaua system, he also scored twice in the 412 minutes. Here's what he says now about the period in Ghencea:

“I signed for 6 months, with an extension option from them. It was not easy for me, coming from a football with a totally different style. Plus I worked there, so I went to something completely different.

It was difficult and adapting to the game style here, after playing there (no – in Ireland) 13 years the first year in seniors was not simple. Here they play much more technically, more tactically. There on the long ball, strength and speed.

It was quite difficult for me to impose myself at Steaua, a new system … As a central striker of my style, I did not help me. We were playing with two attackers, but we had to stay away from each other. Or I am 9 of the box, the mouth of the portions, I seek to mark.

They said they wanted to bring something else they gave up many players. That's it, so it was to be. “

Măgerușan bears the number 99, the year of birth, and is a permanent danger in the air // photo source: Instagram @ cristiano_16

“Romania is much more beautiful than the world thinks”

Even so, he is delighted by the choice to return to Romania:

“When I came to Steaua it was very good, I enjoyed the weather here. I moved to the country with my girlfriend, we like it more in Romania than in Ireland.

Life is much more beautiful here. You have to see how it is in Ireland to understand. Romania is really much more beautiful than the world thinks. Of course, if someone is to ruin it, some people do it, but as a country … much over! ”.

“I had an offer from the first Irish league”

After the adventure from Steaua he had the opportunity to return to Ireland, but the proposal from Târgu Mureș was smiling more.

“I had an offer from Galway, from the first Irish league. The coach called me there, but a week away came the offer from Târgu Mureș and I thought it would be better to come here. Later the coach came back, he said that he was resolved, that we could go before, but I prefer to go to Târgu.”

At ASA Târgu Mureș he “exploded”

In Târgu Mureș, under the command of Eusebiu Tudor, he feels sensational. He entered half an hour in the second stage, and in the third round, also from the reserve position entered, he scored for the first time. Subsequent, “Double” with Dumbrăvița and Ceahlăul, respectively a hat-trick with Muscel Câmpulung They made to reach terminal 8 after only 7 appearances.

What's different? “Here, in Mureș, we play with two attackers, but on the central area. At Steaua we were playing in two, but we had to stay away from each other.

I am 9 true, I like to come to the centering, to be in front of the gate, to wait for a good center and to put the ball in the gate. I have always liked to score, since I was a little I scored a lot of goals, ”explains Măgerușan.

And if we look at what happened at this beginning of the championship, can we contradict him? The emptiness seems to like it, he likes the void, and so, the pretending surprise to the play-off, take full advantage of their relationship.

I like to set my personal goals. The coach I had at the Hagi Academy, Nicolae Roșca, now second at FC Botosani, told me all the time: «Set a goal. For example, whenever you want to shoot at the gate in this workout ». It remained in my head and I always try to set my personal goals to motivate me.

– Cristian Măgerușan