Article by George Nistor – Published on Sunday, 09 November 2025, 16:05 / Updated on Sunday, 09 November 2025 16:12
Cristi Ignat (22 years old) is getting closer to his first match in the Superliga 2025-2026. The central defender from Rapid, who returned to training a month ago, will soon enter the full program of the team prepared by Costel Gâlcă.
The stopper from Giulești underwent surgery on his shoulder in the summer, which required a longer recovery period than originally expected. During all this time, he was closely supervised, to avoid the risks of a possible relapse, in the context where the responsibilities of his job expose him to physical duels.
Cristian Ignat played for the last time on June 17, at Euro U21, in the match Romania – Slovakia, which ended with the victory of the host country in the final tournament, score 1-2. In the championship, he hasn't played since May, when CFR Cluj prevailed in Bucharest with 4-1. Then, the defender ticked only 13 minutes as a result of the injury to the collarbone.
Cristi Ignat returns to the field. Costel Gâlcă's plan
According to Gazeta Sporturilor information, Costel Gâlcă is preparing the return of Cristi Ignat to the field immediately after the competitive break caused by the matches of the national teams.
The central defender could be used until then in one of the test matches that Rapid will play in the next two weeks.
Pașcanu and Bolgado made up the defensive axis of Giuleștei in the victory that took Giuleștei to the first position in the Superliga, 2-0 against FC Argeș. Denis Ciobotariu, who also recently returned to training, respectively Kramer, suspended in the last stage, are the other options for the central defender position.
“The period when I was injured was hard, but I can say that I grew a lot during this time, I had time to think about what I want and what I want, I think I have changed my way of thinking, even the physical part.
It was a beneficial but very difficult time. Mr. Costel Gâlcă helped us a lot, the style of play can also be seen”, declared Cristi Ignat exclusively for GSP, a month ago.
Cristi Ignat returns to the field at Rapid after the competitive break
Difficult surgical procedure
The operation to which Ignat was subjected was more complicated than the doctors anticipated, as the shoulder cartilages were damaged and often caused dislocations and subluxations.
The surgery lasted up to four hours, far beyond the initial estimate of the doctors, who had anticipated that the problem could be solved in 60 minutes.
37of matches the player born in Chisinau scored in the shirt of Rapid. A product of Dacia Buiucani, Ignat moved to Romania in 2015, when he was 12 years old
My problems are older. They started from Mioveni, when I was on loan. I kept going, I kept playing. My shoulder usually bounced about a month apart. One year I played like that. I was training in pain because I wanted to play. There is daily progress. We monitor them. Everyone knows about my trial.
– Cristi Ignat, defender at Rapid
