“He was unpleasantly surprised, the player is to blame for the confusion”

• Turkey – Romania will be played on March 26, from 19:00, match broadcast by Prima TV. If we win, we play the World Cup qualification final against Slovakia/Kosovo on March 31, 2026.

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The main topic of discussion was the injury situation of goalkeeper Ionuț Radu (28 years old).

After Mircea Lucescu he urgently summoned Laurentiu Popescu, from Craiova, in his place, the goalkeeper from La Liga will eventually travel to Turkey and will be able to be used by “Il Luce”, according to the medical bulletin published today by Celta Vigo.

Ioanițoaia updated: “Mircea Lucescu was surprised by this turn of events”

Ovidiu Ioanițoaia claims that inclusive Mircea Lucescu was surprised by this turn of events. The director of Gazeta is of the opinion that Radu was wrong because he did not come to Romania the next day, so that the doctors in Bucharest could give a verdict.

“I want to tell you that I spoke late last night, close to midnight, with the selector. He was also surprised by this turn of events. Ionuț Radu, from Vigo, had called him to tell him that he was feeling well. Now, of course, he was taken by surprise and even Mircea Lucescu didn't know how to react.

My opinion is that, in the end, the one who produced this mess is Ionuț Radu himself, because he does not decide when a player plays and when he does not play.

He should have, being summoned to the national team, get on the plane the next day, come to Madrid and from Madrid to Bucharest. And here the doctors and the doctor of the national team to determine if he is fit to play or not.

It was probably the emotional impact as well. Celta Vigo, who are a team fighting for a European place, lost at home to a relegated side, after leading 3-0, lost 4-3. In my opinion, Ionuț Radu did not assess the situation as he should have.

He and probably the doctor from Celta Vigo decided that he can't play, that he is injured, he felt something in his calf, in his leg, right, which is why he didn't come to Bucharest, he stayed in Vigo, where it was found that the injury is neither a stretch nor a contracture, it is simply a contusion and that he could come.

Now, even Lucescu could not pronounce until the player came. Coming today, probably around 5 o'clock, is a Tarom race arriving from Madrid. What the doctors will be able to find is difficult to say, because let's not forget, tomorrow at 10 o'clock the national plane flies to Istanbul.

Maybe, depending on the doctors' opinion or the diagnosis, Lucescu will take Ionuț Radu to Istanbul, maybe he won't take him and will keep him for the other match, because the world, in general, knows that, regardless of the result of the match in Istanbul, the national team will have to play one more match with the team that loses in the duel between Kosovo and Slovakia”, pointed out Ovidiu Ioanițoaia.

The director of Gazeta is convinced: “Ionuț Radu is guilty”

The only culprit in this whole story is the player, claims the director of Gazeta. Radu had to report to the lot the next day, and then see if he can play or not.

“It's hard to say, until Ionuț Radu arrives, what will be the attitude of the selector towards him. Lucescu didn't say it directly or I didn't understand very well, but Ionuț Radu's attitude also surprised him unpleasantly, although it is worth noting, on the other hand, the flip side of the medal, his desire to defend, to play in such an important match.

I say once more, it is not the player who decides whether he can play or not, but the doctors and, ultimately, the technical team, the coach. Let Ionuț Radu come and let's see, let this controversy with Târnovanu end, whether it is Târnovanu or not.

We have a talent to stir the waters by ourselves, we don't even need someone to stir us, because we stir ourselves. Now, instead of peace, this whole story was born. However, Târnovanu has not defended for 10 stages. The last time I saw him was on January 29, in a 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

It is not the fault of the U21 rule that Târnovanu does not defend, this rule did not decide, this is what the FCSB chiefs decided, led by the boss. I have always said that this U21 rule is not the best, others have a different opinion, it has not achieved its goal anyway, from my point of view.

It was introduced to contribute to the detection, growth and promotion of young domestic talent, but we see that today, in a championship with 16 teams, there are many more foreigners than there were 12 years ago, when Burleanu came as president, in a championship with 18 teams.

Then foreigners represented 34% of the total players, today they represent 45.5%. So, to put it simply, the U21 rule has not achieved the primary purpose for which it was introduced.

Until a verdict is given in the case of Ionuț Radu, from what I know and what seems logical, the incumbent would be Aioani. But of course, now it remains to be seen what Ionuț Radu has and I say once again, he is to blame for all this confusion. He had to get on the plane, being summoned to the lot, the next day, Monday, the doctors were clarifying whether he could or not,” added the GSP director.

The moment you are called up to the national team, the club is obliged to let you go, these are UEFA and FIFA regulations. He probably got scared, it was also that painful defeat, to lead 3-0 at home to Alaves, who are relegated, when you are fighting for a European place, and to lose 4-3.

Of course it's a big disappointment, it hits you hard. There must have been moments of confusion there as well, only to find out the next day that he had nothing and wanted to come and defend. Now it remains to be seen what the doctors will say in the end, they have the last word.

– Ovidiu Ioanițoaiathe director of the Gazette