Bye Poppa (37 years old) was delighted with the team star for the second part of the League 2 season. The midfielder from Ghencea also had a mysterious announcement for the red-blue supporters: a named player is going to join the team prepared by Daniel Oprița.
Together with his colleagues, “Motoreta” participated in the launch event of the partnership between Steaua and Ursu, the brand of alkaline mineral water owned by the legendary Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Popa feels good in training camps, which she says she will miss after she retires. His contract expires in June 2026.
Adi Popa, announcement for Stella fans: “Probably another name will come!”
At Steaua, active players with numerous presences in the first echelon, such as Dragoș Nedelcu and Nicolas Popescu, formerly at Farul Constanța, both champions of Romania.
Asked about the team's experience, Adi Popa gave hints about the move prepared by the red-blue club: “There's probably another name coming! I can't tell you who, you'll find out.”
The winger is confident that he will enter the play-off of the second league, together with his teammates.
“We lost in the last two stages, we made life difficult, however we are in our hands, as we Romanians like to say that mathematically we have a chance, but difficult.
I think we have a good chance, we are Steaua and we have to win our games on the field and enter the play-offs, that's all. I know most of them, I also played with Nedelcu at FCSB, we also know each other from the national team”, declared Adi Popa.
I have 60-80 camps, this one I just started. I'm used to it, I think it will be one of the fears, of the things I'll miss when I retire, I've heard from friends who left recently. It's two weeks, it's not the end of the country, they're necessary because in League 2 we have a three-month break in the summer, three months in the winter, and naturally you have to get back on your feet. What to do these months, stay at home?!
– Adi Popa, midfielder at Steaua
12parties ticked off Adi Popa in League 2 2025-2026, without scoring or providing decisive assists
Adi Popa continues to play football, in League 2
“With Turkey, the pressure is on them”
The midfielder believes that Romania has a real chance to get past Turkey, if the “tricolors” will evolve as a united group. He is also betting on the tension of the match that will be played in Istanbul on March 26, in the semi-final of the pool for the WC 2026.
If they win, the representative team led by Mircea Lucescu will play the winner of the Slovakia – Kosovo match on March 31.
It will be a difficult match against Turkey. Basically, we play the final in the semi-finals, that's how I see it. We have our chance, 90 minutes, 11 to 11, we are playing away, the pressure is on them, the Turkish crowd is very fanatical and if they don't play well and we go in very well, it will probably turn against them. I don't think we have players who can solve the qualification, like Hagi, on the group side, that's where our asset is. Let's be united, let's help each other, that's the only way we can succeed.
– Bye Popa
