Article by Daniel Grigore – Published on Thursday, 04 December 2025, 08:02 / Updated on Thursday, 04 December 2025 08:05
Gigi Becali, 67 years old, says about Octavian Popescu (22), holder in UTA – FCSB 3-0that he would have been upset because he had to travel to Arad, unlike the right-wing senators in the team.
In the second stage of the Romanian Cup groups, FCSB lost bitterly in Arad, 0-3, receiving all the goals after being outnumbered. It is a failure suffered in the context where the first “11” was made up of reserves and players from the Academy.
Among those who had the chance to stand out was the extreme leftist Octavian Popescu. The starter, he came off in the 67th minute, shortly after UTA made it 2-0. According to Becali, Popescu asked to be taken out.
Gigi Becali, about Octavian Popescu: “He got angry. Why don't they make the trip, but he does?
“He's a kid who he was upset that why he has a smaller toy than a friend's toy. I mean why don't they make the move but he does? He is Octavian Popescu, who is a great football player, and by the way, he got angry and said “Lord, I can't run anymore”.
Well, yes, he asked for a change, because “I can't do it anymore”. He had run 14 kilometers, you know? 14 kilometers he did, the poor thing. What to do with them? I said: “Okay, well, if the poor man can't do it anymore…”, Becali said to PrimaSport.
In the same intervention, the landowner determined Popescu's fate: will remain at FCSB, but only “filler”.
“He'll stay on the team, there, as a filler. Who knows, he might explode, he might even become a man. He's a child, he's not growing up at all. He's not becoming a man, that's the thing.
How can I not trust him? If I don't trust you, you know what I do to them, right? In it I still have.
You speak, your opinions, what should be done. Stop telling me, negotiate with me on TV what I should do, how I should give valuable players on loans. I don't give loans. I throw out, that's it! Either I keep it, or I throw it out”, added the landowner.
In Arad, Popescu made his 20th appearance this season. He did not score a single goal in more than 700 minutes spent on the field.
He didn't want MM, but according to me… I said that all the players should be 15 years old! He answered me: “Well, Gigi, I'm afraid, it's causing us to disregard the competition”. What inconsideration, me? Disregard them! How do you put FCSB, when this is a competition that qualifies you in the Europa League, in 3 trips?! Do we take advantage of small teams? Hear you!
– Gigi Becali, FCSB patron
