Article by Adrian Duţă – Published Sunday, October 26, 2025 23:36 / Updated Monday, October 27, 2025 00:06
FCSB – UTA 4-0. After the victory of the champion of Romania, Gigi Becali declared that he will rely on Ionuț Cercel (18 years old) for the position of central defender, this being the first option for the U21 rule. And he said that the footballer transferred from Farul cost him a total of 900,000 euros.
Cercel played stopper with UTA, alongside Graovac, Ngezana being suspended. Gigi Becali was pleased with his performance and provided some first-hand details on the 18-year-old.
Gigi Becali stated that he brought Cercel to use him as a central defender, but he played right back at the suggestion of the staff. Then, after a discussion between the player and Pintilii, in which Cercel said that he feels better as a central defender, FCSB decided to use him as a stopper.
Gigi Becali: “Ionuț Cercel cost me 900,000 euros. We have to play with him, have U21 in defense”
“Cercel was supposed to play right back. When I got him I said I'd put him in central defender. They put him on the right. Now, I said we have to play in defense with the U21. It cost me 900,000 so far. We have to play with him. I gave 500,000, another 200,000 for I don't know how many games, then another 200,000 another clause. I gave 900,000 for both him and Stoian.
Why did I take Cercel, not to play? Pintilii called me and said that Cercel told him: “I play, but the right back is uncomfortable for me. At Farul I played right because they needed it. I'm a central defender». Then I was even happier. He says that he has the quality of a footballer in a certain position.
It means it has quality. Why let him play right back if he says he trusts center? He will play alongside Ngezana, in the centre“, declared Gigi Becali, at Prima Sport 1.
11 matcheshas Cercel at FCSB
Ionuț Cercel / PHOTO: Cristi Preda (GSP)
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