The rebel Pascal Nouma, torn between two loves before Romania

For him, “Il Luce” is not just a coach, but a father figure. One that changed his life. “Mister Lucescu was and still is a father figure for me. Even more than my biological father. I was on the verge of dying… I had a lump on the back of my head, I was diagnosed with cancer. I only had a 2% chance of survival,” Nouma testified in the past.

During that terrible period, when he was in France, undergoing treatment, and playing for Marseille, he made a gesture that remained forever imprinted in his soul: “Mircea Lucescu said only this: “I want Pascal Nouma!”. Even though I was in a very serious condition, he brought me back to Turkey, in his team.”

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

• Gazeta Sporturilor has 6 experienced reporters in Istanbul who will send the most important information, reports and a series of multimedia correspondence.

Pascal Nouma: “I love Mircea Lucescu”

With his direct and passionate style, Nouma admits that he is in an impossible dilemma: he cannot choose between Turkey, the country that adopted him after his withdrawal, and Lucescu's Romania. “We love football in Romania, but in Turkey it's different. Here they die for football,” he says, without hesitation.

“I'm very weak on predictions, but I want to say one thing: it's an extremely important match for both nations, Turkey and Romania. I live in Turkey, I love this country, and for them this game means a lot. It is equally important for Mircea Lucescu. i love him

I can't choose between mother and father, between Turkey and Romania. I wish both teams the best of luck, but I live here, so I say, “Come on, Turkey!”. However, I can't be entirely happy regardless of the outcome. I love Turkey, I love Mircea Lucescu and I respect him enormously. You are my brothers”, said Pascal Nouma in dialogue with Gazeta reporters from Istanbul.

It is the same gratitude that made him, at one point, kiss the coach's hand, as a supreme gesture of respect. And now, years later, also in Istanbul, a city that Lucescu conquered from the bench, the Romanian is again in the foreground, with the mission of leading the national team to the World Championship, on Thursday evening.

Mircea Lucescu achieved important things at Galatasaray and Beşiktaş. He is one of the best coaches in the world. He has worked in many countries, seen many styles of play and therefore has a huge experience. He is, in a way, a real “teacher” of football. He certainly knows all there is to know about Turkish football.

– Pascal Nouma, former striker

Pascal Nouma kissing Lucescu's hand, an image that went around the world

The former striker perfectly understands the huge stakes of Thursday night's duel and also explains the choice of Beşiktaş's stadium for this confrontation. They expect a spectacular match, not only by what will happen on the field, but especially by the force coming from the stands. More than 42,000 supporters will turn the arena into a volcano.

“The match is played at home in Turkey, in my favorite stadium, Inonu, Beşiktaş's stadium. This means a lot to me. They chose this stadium and the atmosphere will be incredible. All Romanians will be well received in Istanbul. It's not just about the Romanian national team, all the teams that come to play in Turkey are received the same.

I know that football is also loved in Romania, but there is something different here. In Turkey, people live for football. It's a World Cup match, and when you play for your country, you give it your all. It will be a nice match: win, move on. Lose, stay home.

Turkey has many very good players. The goalkeeper is extremely talented, he played an incredible game against Liverpool. I know everyone expects us to talk about Arda Guler, Yildiz or Calhanoglu, not the goalkeeper. So perhaps it seems surprising that I choose him.

But I like to talk about this goalkeeper, because he deserves it. Sure, Arda Guler has a fantastic talent and he also scored some great goals in Spain. I hope he performs very well with the national team as well, because, from my point of view, sometimes he looked even better at Real Madrid than with the national team,” he added.

Arda Guler (right) plays for Real Madrid, Hakan Calhanoglu for Inter // photo: Imago Images

“The best are called to the national team, and there are enough top players here. They will give everything on the field. Who does not want to reach the World Championship? Beşiktaş is the best place for such a match, that's why they chose this stadium. For me, it is the Mecca of Turkish football. Everything will be in red and white, you will see.

Anything can happen in football. All players must be focused because this is the match of their lives. A weak moment can decide everything, just like a goal can change the fate of the game. A single mistake can mean the difference between qualification and elimination“, added Nouma.

Pascal Nouma: “I don't think it will be a closed match”

Pascal Nouma also spoke about the atmosphere he anticipates at the match, saying that he does not expect a closed game, but a spectacular duel, pushed from the stands by the Turkish fans, who will force both teams to play offensively. In his view, it is essential that the players give everything on the field, regardless of the result, “to have their shirts wet at the end”.

“I don't think it will be a close game. Turkish fans will push both teams to play offensively. I'm sure it won't be 0-0 or 1-1. Football is played for 90 minutes, you can win or lose, but the most important thing is to give everything on the field. If at the end the shirt is wet, it means you have done your duty.

I will probably see Mircea Lucescu at the stadium. He is like a father to me, but I don't want to interrupt his training. We never talk before games, only after. It's better this way, I don't want to disturb him.

I heard about Ianis Hagi, he plays in Alanya, but I can't rate him properly because I don't watch his matches constantly. His father was an extraordinary player, a real symbol, and I think he has qualities too,” concluded Nouma.

Finally, he sent a message to Mircea Lucescu: “Mystery, I have nothing to say to you. You know very well what you have to do. You have been a professional for so many years. I wish you all the best in the world. Mircea, I love you, “coach”, forever!”