Article by Marius Mărgărit – Published Tuesday, January 13, 2026 8:18 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, January 13, 2026 8:19 p.m.
Alexandru Meszar, the leader of UTA Arad, spoke about the possible transfer of Rareș Pop. Rapid ticked off another departure in this winter mercato, agreeing for midfielder Luka Gojkovic (26 years old) to go on loan to another Superliga team.
It is about UTA, which, through the voice of coach Adrian Mihalcea, had announced a little earlier, during today's day, that it wants the Serbian midfielder, for whom negotiations were held since yesterday.
UPADTE 20:00 | Luka Gojkovic was officially presented at UTA Arad: “Our club welcomes him”
Luka Gojkovic, the footballer from Rapid, was officially presented at UTA Arad. The midfielder is on loan to Aradeni until the end of the competitive season.
UTA announces the loan transfer of player Luka Gojković from Rapid Bucharest. The agreement is valid until the end of the season in the summer of this year. The Serbian is 26 years old, plays as a central midfielder and will join, starting tomorrow, the team prepared by Adrian Mihalcea in the mini-cantonment in Mogoșoaia.
The new player of the “Old Lady” played 15 matches this season for Rapid, during which he provided two decisive assists. It is quoted by the specialized website Transfermarkt at 500,000 euros. Gojkovic also played for FK Vozdovac, Backa Palanca, Novi Belgrad and Rad Belgrad, all teams from Serbia.
Our club wishes him a warm welcome and good luck in the red and white shirt.
–The press release from UTA Arad
Gojkovic, free, until the summer
Thus, Gojkovic, who made 15 appearances, in which he provided two goal assists for Rapid, in the first 21 rounds of the Superliga, will play for Arad until the summer. UTA will not pay any money to the people of Giulești for this loan, they will only pay the full salary that the player had at Rapid, i.e. 10,000 euros.
Gojkovic's contract with Rapid would expire at the end of this season, but the Bucharesters also have the option of extending the agreement for another year. The two clubs have reached an agreement that, depending on the priorities of the white-cherries, but also on the performances of Gojkovic, quoted on transfermarkt.com at 500,000 euros, he will have the possibility to either stay in Arade or return to Giulesti for the next season.
Alexandru Meszar, head of UTA: “We couldn't convince Rareș Pop!”
Meszar, the head of UTA, spoke exclusively to Gazeta Sporturilor, addressing the subject of the chances of Rareș Pop also reaching Arad.
Arădeni tried to bring another footballer from the team of Rapid. UTA wanted the return of Rareș Pop (20 years old), a player who had appreciated developments in the Arada formation before the transfer to Rapid, two years ago. Then, the footballer played for the team coached by Mircea Rednic until the end of the 2021/2022 season.
However, at Rapid, Rareș Pop failed to establish itself. This season he played in only seven games in the Super League and two in the Romanian Cup, scoring one goal and two decisive assists. The president of UTA, Alexandru Meszar, explained the situation:
“We would have also wanted Rareș Pop, but he doesn't want to come that far, because he is a student in Bucharest. Most likely, if he leaves Rapid, he will prefer Ploiești, because it is closer
