Cârțu defends Balaci and fires at Boloni: “He was playing for a team favored by certain forces before '89”

Without a team and with a lot of free time at his disposal, coach Loti Boloni (72 years old), the last time at Metz, ignited the fire of declarations in Romanian football, after he passed Ilie Balaci (died on October 21, 2018, aged 62) and Nicolae Dobrin (died on October 26, 2007, aged 10 years) in the category of “non-serious”.

Ilie Balaci was considered a football bohemian PHOTO Personal collection

In defense of the two jumped Sorin Cârțu (70 years old), the legend of Craiova University and former colleague of Balaci in the great team of Olten.

“Balaci was injured very young, at only 26 years old, right after he had been named the best Romanian footballer. At the time, Craiova was the standard-bearer of Romanian football in European cups, we had reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, with Ilie Balaci in the team. But it was impossible to go out, to increase your status and scope as a great footballer.

When we talk about Hagi or others, they had this chance. Their impact in big football was much more visible. Do you know how it is with Boloni? Probably also speaks from the coach's point of view. As a player, however, Balaci was above Boloni, even if he has many selections.

And Balaci could have had as many if he hadn't been injured. If you look at it strictly from the player's point of view, it's a mistake. Analyzing a footballer who was clearly above you is over the top.

Maybe he's also wrong because he equates football before 1989 with that after 1989, when players could go abroad“, declared Sorin Cârțu, the former great striker of Craiova, now president of “Science”.

Sorin Cârțu: “Dobrin is an immensity of Romanian football”

“With Gicu you couldn't go to battle”, concluded Loti, referring to the fact that he was left out of the 1970 World Cup squad by coach Angelo Niculescu.

“As for Dobrin, I caught him playing less. Dobrin is an immensity of Romanian football and would have deserved a different characterization. When you talk about Romania's great footballers, you remember Dobrin and Balaci.

They are part of some disadvantaged generations, who did not have the opportunity to play abroad and have a major impact on the international audience. Hagi remained in the memory of football lovers through his developments at Real Madrid, through the goals scored for Real, Barcelona and Galatasaray. You worship when you see what performances it had!

A different comment could be made. If he can afford it… Boloni is in a special situation: he is a player who, benefiting from the context of a team favored by certain forces before '89, had the chance to go out and play outside“, said the honorary president of Craiova University.

Cârțu shares the idea of ​​Mircea Lucescu, who complained that he could not win the title with Dinamo because of the Ceaușescu family, especially his son Valentin.