EXCLUSIVE “That's how great footballers are” » Valeriu Iftime announced what's next for the seriously injured kid on Monday + Are there current offers at FC Botoșani?
Article by Remus Dinu – Published Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 5:40 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 5:45 p.m.
Valeriu Iftime, the patron of the FC Botoșani leader, announced the current situation of Narcis Ilaș, the 18-year-old defender was seriously injured on Monday in the 2-0 win over Hermannstadt. In a reaction given to Gazeta today, the financier of the Moldovans announced what he passed on to the teenager who became a starter in the Super League this season.
Iftime, who praised Ilaș on several occasions, including at the beginning of this month, when he proposed him to the national youth team, expressing his availability for possible negotiations with the League 1 rivals, revealed how he tried to strengthen the full-back who will be absent for at least three months.
Iftime spoke to the patient Ilaș: “I told him that this is what happens to great footballers”
“I spoke to him yesterday yesterday and he was OK… He's got this diagnosis, torn internal collateral ligament. He's going to have surgery.
That's football, I told him he'll get over this shit… I told him that's how great footballers arethey have these trials, but at some point he will be able to overcome them”, said Valeriu Iftime, in a dialogue with Gazeta Sporturilor. The owner of the Super League leader also said that no footballer from Grozavu's camp has been sought so far in the perspective of a possible transfer.
“No, we don't have any offers. This is not the time, nor is there such a discussion at this time“, assured the businessman from the head of the Moldovan club.
“I'm fine now, I'm not as connected as I am during the matches. We're OK, tomorrow we have a Cup match with Farul Constanța… We have a good morale, we'll see what happens,” added Iftime.
Narcis Ilaș, the right defender of FC Botoșani. PHOTO: Imago Images
Narcis Ilaș was a full-time player in the first 13 matches of this season. The right defender from FC Botoșani suffered a serious injury in the 15th minute of the match with Hermannstadt, being taken out on a stretcher by the Moldovan medical team.
Bad luck for Narcis Ilaș: removed from the circuit for several months
Narcis Ilaș, the main option for the under position of the leader FC Botoșani, received a harsh diagnosis, after the injury suffered in the home victory against Hermannstadt, score 2-0. Following a ball duel with Nana Antwi, Ilaș fell very badly on his knees and left the field on a stretcher, being later transported to the hospital.
Narcis Ilaș suffered a rupture of the internal collateral ligament and will miss approximately 3 months
Starting in all 14 games played by FC Botoșani this competitive season, Narcis Ilaș suffered an injury in the 14th minute of the duel won by the “red-white-blues” against FC Hermannstadt, score 2-0.
The diagnosis given by the doctors following the investigations carried out is “Rupture of the Internal Collateral Ligament (ICL)”, for which he will undergo a surgical intervention that will keep him away from the pitch for approximately three months. The FC Botoșani family is with you! Be strong, «Combi»!
– FC Botoșani press release
