“I didn't know which way I was going to take it. If someone had told me a year ago, I would have said they were crazy!”
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published on Wednesday, 21 January 2026 21:38 / Updated on Thursday, 22 January 2026 00:43
His goalkeeper Celta VigoIonut I'm gladoffered an interview-event for Gazeta Sporturilor, the first for the Romanian press since 2019.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper, with Celta in 7th place in La Liga, tied with Betis, was asked by the GSP reporter how the first match at the Santiago Bernabeu was, with a win to zero, what feelings he had and what he was left with after the historic result achieved by the team from Vigo in the Spanish capital.
Radu: “One day you can be the highest, other times you end up at the bottom”
“It was something indescribable… If someone had told me last year, in January at this time, that you would play at the Bernabeu in December, I wouldn't have believed them. But that I would win and not concede a goal, I would have told them, “You are crazy”!
I hadn't even arrived at Venezia, I still had six months left on my contract at Inter, I didn't know which way to go, and remember that the life of a footballer is very unpredictable. One day you can be on the highest heights, other times you can reach the bottom of everything”.
It's something incredible, hard to explain in words, a match… I think it was the most beautiful feeling experienced so far, for the simple fact that I knew where I was 11 months ago! That moved me the most
– Ionut RaduCelta Vigo's goalkeeper
Ionuț Radu, in Real Madrid – Celta Vigo // photo: Imago Images
Asked if that 2-0 against Real Madrid was a bigger performance than the 2019 EURO U21 route, Radu said that “I can't compare, each has its importance.
At the time, it was a period of hegemony, very special, it was over a longer period of time, while here we are talking about a match. But in terms of importance, euphoria and the feelings experienced then, I cannot differentiate them.
Everyone wrote to me that night, but everyone watches and follows when it comes to Real Madrid, especially if there is a Romanian there. The most beautiful was that of my parents, who always excite me the most after matches. They know what I've been through and remind me to stay grounded and thank God for everything that happens!
– Ionut RaduCelta Vigo's goalkeeper
