“The national team needs him”

Pantilimon, 27 national team selections, had only words of praise for him Ionut Radu from Celta Vigo. After the victory against Rayo Vallecano on SundayRadu has reached 6 games without conceding a goal in the current season.

VIDEO | Costel Pantilimon bets on Ionuț Radu: “He needed peace”

Ionuț Radu, 28 years old, is described by Pantilimon as a “solid goalkeeper, which the national team needs”.

“I congratulate Ionuț Radu. I hope he won't end up in the situation of going on loan somewhere, that's what I was saying a few years ago. When you go on loan, you are never considered a club man. If you don't perform and make an impact from the start, which is very difficult, you are only seen as a backup. And as a goalkeeper, it's much harder.

Now he has found peace. He is a man of the club, he has good developments, and the team is doing well. He also completed with good developments in the national team. I hope he keeps this moment as long as possible, because it's important.

Ionuț Radu, 5 million share on Transfermarkt, has a good season with Celta Vigo, 7th place in La Liga, photo: Imago Images

It can be seen that he is a goalkeeper who has quality, he needed peace. At the moment, the national team needs a solid goalkeeper with this stability to be decisive“, said Costel Pantilimon, at GSP Live.

7 matchesdefended Ionuț Radu at the national team, the first representative, 3 of them ticked off last year

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“The matches that the Romanian national team has in March matter a lot. I say “the matches”, because I trust that it will be OK and that we will end up making that surprise that, at the moment, not many people believe in.

I would like a 1-0 win against Turkey, “clean sheet”, as I like it, and let's move on. I know it won't be easy. All the statistics put us in an area of ​​”outsiders”. Honestly, maybe it's better that way, because we don't get talked about as much anymore. We're used to pressure not being our strongest asset,” added Pantilimon, ex-Manchester City, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest.

• Romania – Turkey, the semi-final of the World Championship play-off, will be played on March 26, from 19:00. The winner will play the decisive match against Kosovo/Slovakia.

Turkey has a mentality similar to ours. The only thing I fear is that they have a very, very capable coach: Vincenzo Montella. He has a good mentality, I watched the Turks' games, they are a modern team, a team that presses well, they play fast football.

I'm afraid here. I like Montella, I like what he did in the Turkish league, and their national team looks good

– Costel Pantilimonat GSP Live