“You have to be in the bunker, wait there for 1-2 hours”

Raised by Netanya, the stopper immediately established himself as a starter in Zeljko Kopic's team (48 years old). He made his debut on August 2, in the derby won with FCSB, score 4-3, and since then he hasn't left the team.

Four months after the transfer, Stoinov he has already made an impression on Romanian football, which he compared to that of Israel, his native country and the only one where he played.

Nikita Stoinov, one of Dinamo's core players: “The level is higher than in Israel”

The stopper played 13 matches for Dinamo, being one of the appreciated players. Recently, Gică Mihali, the legend of the “dogs”, had only words of praise for him.

He spoke about the level of football in Romania, but he also recalled the war that his country, Israel, had in the Gaza Strip. It was not easy for him there, taking into account the fact that he could not play football and had to take shelter in the bunker.

Barcelona is the club Nikita Stoinov wants to play for in the future.

“At first it was difficult to be alone, to be away from my family, but now I feel better. I think the level is higher than in Israel, but I work hard, my colleagues and the staff help me.

I think that the level in Romania is higher than in Israel, but there are no big differences. There are more good teams here than in Israel. In Israel the emphasis was on both aspects. The tactical one is much more important for the team, but for you, as a player, the technical one is more important.

When I was little I dreamed of playing for the national team. I was there but didn't play, hopefully it will happen soon. And to play in Barcelona. I am always happy and proud when I wear the national team shirt. Regardless of what is happening to our country now, I am happy.

(no – How is life in Israel during wartime) It's not easy because there are bombs going off, you have to be in the bunker, wait there for 1-2 hours, you can't play football, you can't go to training“, said Nikita Stoinov, for orangesport.ro.

Nikita Stoinov, in Dinamo's shirt / PHOTO: Gazeta Sporturilor

I love this kid, center back Nikita Stoinov. I like it very much. He has a sensational maturity in the game, passes extraordinarily and comes out with the ball at his feet, assumes some things that others, at 25-30 years old, maybe cannot do.

I don't think he misses two passes a game. And on top of that, he's a left-footed centre-back, and those are very rare. Being left-handed and playing on the left side is a big deal. For example, I was right-handed, but I've played left-handed all my life.

– Gica Mihaliabout Stoinov, for Radio Dinamo 1948

550,000 eurosit's Nikita Stoinov's share, according to Transfermarkt