Dumitru Moraru, 69 years old, his former great goalkeeper Dinamo and of the national team, analyzed, in an interview given to Gazeta on Christmas Eve, the situation of the most important Romanian goalkeepers of the moment, Ionuț Radu, 28 years old, turned into a “revelation” at Celta Vigoand Stefan Târnovanu25 years old, the undisputed holder from FCSB.
We asked Șețe Moraru, one of the most valuable Romanian goalkeepers of all time, how does he see the battle for the starting position of the national team and who would the Romanian goalkeeper of the year 2025 vote for. The conclusions of the “veteran” Dynamoist, in the lines below.
Șețe Moraru put Ionuț Radu and Târnovanu in the mirror: “Do you compare Liga 1 from Romania with La Liga?”
Reinvented at Celta Vigo, where he transferred in the summer, Ionuț Radu regained the status he had lost after the last less convincing experiences. The Galician goalkeeper also convinced Tețe Moraru:
“Currently, Ionuț Radu is the best Romanian goalkeeper, he deserves the 1st place in this top. He has quality, that's clear! But do you see what games mean to a goalkeeper, to have matches?
Plus you have to have quality to play in the Spanish league, even if you're a goalkeeper or striker. And we are not talking about the “dragons”, the first 3-4 teams, I mean the rest as well… You have to be a player to play in Spain. In the last matches, he defended extraordinarily, he almost took out the Celta players, he also defended a penalty against Athletic.
[E titularul incontestabil al «barajului» cu Turcia?] There is still a long way to go, there are still three months until then. Târnovanu could also have a chance, but do you compare Liga 1 from Romania with La Liga?“, said Tețe Moraru.
About Târnovanu: “It's kind of wasting time here! The boy did his job, but why aren't the offers coming?”
As for Ștefan Târnovanu, whose qualities and contributions he admires in the recent performances achieved by FCSB, Dumitru Moraru does not understand why the 25-year-old goalkeeper does not manage to get a transfer to the West:
“My opinion is that Târnovanu is kind of wasting his time here! Here's the problem, I understand that Giovanni Becali keeps looking for them, but he doesn't find them, he's not even asked for.
Ștefan Târnovanu / Imago Images
Plus… It's a bit difficult to reach the first 5-6 championships in Europe. And if you ask a lot, it's hard to leave. He defends here at FCSB, defends in the European cups, the boy has done his job… But forget that the offers are not coming.
I watch TV and through these championships in Europe I see very, very good goalkeepers, even in the second-rate teams, in quotes”, said Dumitru Moraru, for Gazetă.
Dumitru “Șețe” Moraru has 393 matches in League 1, a competition in which he made his debut in August 1974, in a Dinamo – Steaua 2-0. Moraru has won League 1 five times and the Romanian Cup five times, a competition in which it played in three other finals. He also has the Balkan Cup in his CV, during the time he was playing at Sportul. Moreover, he collected 38 selections for the national team, for which he debuted in 1975, in a 1-1 Greece-Romania draw.
The story of his career and episodes less known to the general public, HERE.
“Tețe” Moraru (right), exchanging pennants with Graeme Souness (left), before the semi-final of the Champions Cup between Dinamo and Liverpool (1984) / photo: Gazetei Sporturilor Archive
