Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Saturday, December 27, 2025, 3:26 p.m. / Updated Saturday, December 27, 2025, 3:26 p.m.
Four days ago, George Ganea (26 years old) officially announced his split from Ujpesta team currently ranked 8th in the Hungarian first league. The Romanian forward spoke openly about the pressure of being the son of a former footballer, referring to his father, Ionel Ganea (52 years old).
Quoted at 150,000 euros by the specialized website Transfermarkt, George Ganea has been playing in Hungary since 2023, when he left FCU Craiova, the team for which he had played for one season.
George spoke about the pressure of the Ganea name: “It's very difficult for any footballer's child”
The forward explained how difficult it is to be constantly compared to his father and wanted to draw a clear line between their careers:
“Everyone knows dad has his opinions and he's earned the right to speak, but I can't say I always agree with what he says. Don't let the world think I'm making him talk. He speaks his mind and I would like to be left out a little in these comparisons with him.
Ionel Ganea is Ionel Ganea and George Ganea is George Ganea. He did his job very well, I may not. We are different as people and as footballers. He raised me and taught me to be like that, along with my mother. It's very difficult for any child footballer.”
The attacker admits that he had to lose after the statements of the father: “I had to lose because of this”
George Ganea admits that his father's statements affected his course and image, even if he did not want it:
“Maybe it was a bit harder for me. It is not written anywhere that you reach a certain level or not. I can say that I had to lose because of it, but it was meant to be. I never wanted it to be understood that he was speaking for me.
Even though we football kids may say we don't mind these comparisons, believe me they do. We don't say, but at some point you can screw up. Nobody knew you abroad, and I can say that it was better for me.”
The former striker of Ujpest also spoke about his image in Romanian football, but also about the separation from the Budapest club:
“I left my door open at Ujpest, my colleagues wrote to me and that means a lot. QIn Romania I was labeled a scandal, but it is not like that. My former colleagues in the country know me and know what I am like. Sometimes the image also matters”, said George Ganea, according to digisport.ro.
George Ganea's figures
For the team from Budapest, George Ganea ticked off 37 matches, in which he managed 4 decisive assists, without scoring a single goal.
The striker was also part of the Romanian national team at the 2021 Olympic Games, where he played in all three games.
Throughout his career, George Ganea has played for: U Cluj, Rapid, Virtus Entella, AS Roma, CFR Cluj, Viitorul/Farul, FC Argeș and FCU Craiova.
