Article by Sergiu Alexandru – Published Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 2:31 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 2:38 p.m.
From “the best U21 player in the championship”, as Mihai Stoica called him in the fall, Mihai Toma didn't even catch the bench anymore FCSBsince the arrival of Mirel Rădoi.
With Mirel Rădoi on the bench, FCSB played two matches, in the play-out. He drew with Metaloglobus (0-0) and won with UTA (1-0). In both games, the coach decided not to summon Mihai Toma, the U19 international being left out of the team every time!
Mihai Toma, the first “victim” of Mirel Rădoi at FCSB
Used in 21 matches in the Super League to fulfill the U21 rule, Mihai Toma did not enter Mirel Rădoi's views in these first two matches of his mandate. The coach's decision is a technical one. Toma is not injured, he was called up to the U19 national team and played twice.
For the under-21 player, FCSB used goalkeeper Matei Popa, while forward Alexandru Stoian and winger David Popa were reserves. And Mihai Toma stayed in the stands every time.
We have the best U21 player, Mihai Toma. Toma is above everyone. Those who don't believe, don't forget that he plays right back. And Messi, if you put him at left back, it was not easy for him to play. This is what I see and this is what I say. Toma, if he plays in his position, number 10 or left winger. In the U19 national team, he played as a left winger and had fun with the opponents.
– Mihai Stoica, the president of the FCSB Board of Directors, in November
Mihai Toma, in FCSB – CFR Cluj, January 25, 2026. Photo: Ionuț Iordache (GSP)
The decision that changed Mihai Toma's status
Mihai Toma's relegation happened after the defeat against CFR Cluj, 1-4, on January 25. That was the last time he was a starter. After that match, Gigi Becali decided to start goalkeeper Mihai Popa to fulfill the U21 rule and to use the best men in attack.
Since then, Toma sat on the bench in four matches and entered the final on three other occasions (Oțelul – 87, Universitatea Craiova – 89, Metaloglobus – 84). In the last two stages of the regular season, with Elias Charalambous starting, Toma remained on the bench each time. Then, Rădoi “retrograded” him and left him out of the team.
Out of the 21 games played this season, Toma started 12 times, and came on 9 times along the way. In total, he has 23 games this season, also entering the Europa League twice.
500,000 eurosit's Mihai Toma's share, according to transfermarkt
He could leave on loan
FCSB plans to use Matei Popa next season as well to fulfill the U21 rule, which reduces Toma's chances of getting more minutes. And MM Stoica declared that he could leave on loan.
“If we're going to keep playing with an underage goalkeeper, we should think about letting the young players who have to play go on loan. Stoian, Toma, yes. And Mirel likes Stoian a lot. He's a player who, I think, is an attacker,” said Mihai Stoica recently.
