Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 08:58 / Updated Wednesday, February 18, 2026 09:03
Ofri Arad (27 years old), one of the 3 players transferred by FCSB this winter, could debut for the champion in their next game, on February 23, against Metaloglobus. The Israeli has completed his physical training and will start training with his colleagues today.
Defensive midfielder with 5 championship titles in his record, Ofri Arad signed with FCSB without having played since November 5.
He needed a few weeks to get fit with his physical training and was unable to help FCSB.
Now he is finally ready to join the group training. He will have 5 days of collective training until the duel with Metaloglobusso there's a good chance they'll be part of the batch.
The group sessions will also be joined by Mihai Popescu, author of a miraculous recovery. Popescu underwent surgery on October 15, 2025 for a torn anterior cruciate ligament of the knee, and less than 5 months away we should see him back on the field.
Ofri Arad is ready to debut at FCSB: “He got 100% in the strength test, he is training with the team”
Starting from a question about Florin Tănase and Mamadou Thiam, who left for Belgrade to treat their muscle problems, Mihai Stoica said on Tuesday evening, live on PrimaSport:
“They left today, they raced at 4:05 p.m. They could be fit as early as Monday. I didn't say they were playing, they were going to be fit.”
“Ofri Arad will also be able to play, who today passed the strength test with 100%. Mihai Popescu also took that much, who had a little left and broke the device. It's four months since the surgery.
since wednesday Ofri Arad enters with the team, and Mihai Popescu enters integrated. That is, it is part of training with the team, and 10 days is additional. He does not make contact with the team, but in 10 days he will train head-to-tail with the team,” added the president of the FCSB Board of Directors.
At the end of the regular season, FCSB will face Metaloglobus (February 23, home), UTA (March 1, away) and U Cluj (March 6/7, home).
