Article by Eduard Apostol – Published Monday, November 24, 2025, 10:59 / Updated Monday, November 24, 2025 11:01
Frenchman Pascal Nouma, 53 years oldgave an interview to Gazeta Sporturilor in which he explained how he currently sees the confrontation between Turkey and Romania for a place in the World Cup play-off final. The former striker was overcome with emotion, thinking he should pick a favorite
Pascal Nouma, 53 years old, was one of the “bad boys” whom Mircea Lucescu tamed in his career and made him fight until exhaustion when the two were champions with Beşiktaş in 2003.
Maybe even the most ferocious of the “bad boys”! Years passed, in the summer, on the occasion of the film dedicated by Gazeta Sporturilur to Il Luce, the Frenchman was at the center of a spectacular interview on the shores of the Bosphorus.
Pascal – who is also flirting with the film in Istanbul, plus being an ambassador for BJK – divides his life between Cannes and the Turkish metropolis. I noticed live how much he was loved by the “vultures” supporters, he continues to regularly come to the team's home matches on Inonu.
We interviewed Nouma again, via WhatsApp Video, to find out the first reactions after the fates put Turkey and Romania face to face in the semi-final for the World Cup. Pascal was in his apartment in Istanbul, after a championship match of Beşiktaş (1-1 with Samsunspor).
I will definitely want to see this match live. Or maybe not, because the emotions will be very strong! Anyway, I'm looking forward to holding “baba” Lucescu (n.r. “dad” in Turkish)
Pascal Nouma
Pascal Nouma about Mircea Lucescu: “There is no way he can be an enemy for Turkey, he is loved and respected here”
– Pascal, you spend a large part of your life in Istanbul, you were one of Mircea Lucescu's favorites, and you in turn declared that he was like a father to you. Now, in the perspective of the direct match in March 2026, will the Romanian coach be seen as an enemy in Istanbul?
– Not as an enemy. Do you realize what you are saying?! Lucescu is very loved and respected in Turkey. Lucescu is in Turkey like Fatih Terim.
– Okay, it might be that he is currently more appreciated in Turkey than in Romania…
– Yes, there are things that happen in life, not only to Lucescu, but to anyone who is successful. Always when you get to a big, really big level, there will be people who want to tear down your statue. If it was a coach from France, Italy, Germany, England it was OK, he would have been more respected. So, from Romania, many will want to contradict him, to say things about him.
I had cancer: 2% chance of living, and he said: “It doesn't matter the disease, I'll take it!”. Lucescu is my father. Why? Because he was and is a father figure to me, more so than my biological father, even
Pascal Nouma, in an interview given to Gazeta Sporturilor in the summer of 2025
Pascal Nouma has dilemmas: “I love Lucescu like a father, but my home is also in Turkey”
– Is there a favorite in March? Or, even more directly, what chances do you think Romania has in the match in Turkey?
– OK, there is a difference between Turkish and Romanian players. But if you asked me 20-25 years ago, it was obvious that the team with better players is the favorite. At that time the situation was clear. Now, football is unpredictable. Japan can beat Germany, for example. This match is being played, it remains unpredictable.
– Who will you be with?
– I expected you to start with this very question! When Turkey plays against my France… Who can you support, mom or dad?! It is a delicate situation here because I will love Mircea Lucescu all my life. He's like dad. Let me answer you differently: if Turkey qualifies, I will be happy to see this team at the World Cup, but I will mourn Mircea Lucescu's situation! If Romania qualifies, I'll appreciate Lucescu's result, although I'll be mad to see Turkey lose.
Turks are fanatical about football. I am experiencing this phenomenon as I have rarely been given to see in life. How could you not understand. It will be hell for Romania in March, wherever it will be played! Another huge hurdle for your national team
Pascal Nouma
Pascal Nouma, surprised: “Wow, Hagi's son is in Turkey, in Alanya?!”
– Where will the main danger from the Turkish national team come from?
– The best seems to me to be Kenan Yildiz, the goalkeeper of Juventus. Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who is now at Fener, after being at Benfica, is also very good and fast. There are many top footballers at the highest level. I also really like Uğurcan Çakır, Galata's goalkeeper.
– Do you know any player from the Romanian national team?
– Wait! (thinks for a few seconds) No, no, I'm sorry, I really don't know. Really, where is Hagi's son?
– Iannis? At Alanyaspor.
– Is it in Turkey?! Wow, now that you tell me I'm going to watch this team's games to follow him. Interesting. It will really be a terrible match, between Turkey and Romania, many feelings in the middle.
9matches Ianis Hagi collected at Alanyaspor, having two goals and one assist
