He left FCSB for Dinamo and reveals the secret of his 2.01 meters height: “Everyone calls me 'Wembanyama'”

Ashley Davis03/04/2026

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Mihnea Toader (19 years old), the central defender of those from Dinamogave an interview to GSP.ro. Noted for his impressive stature, he spoke about his early days in football and his dream of making it to the national team.

Toader he is 2.01 m and is the tallest player in the Superliga. He grew up at FCSB, and later arrived at Dinamo, where he says he feels “at home”.

He started football as a forward, then was moved to defense. He is inspired by Kennedy Boateng and Radu Drăgușin and wants to reach the national team.

Born in 2006, Toader he is a right-footed central defender and one of the “dogs” young prospects. He has not yet made his debut for the senior team, but is constantly part of Zeljko Kopic's squad.

VIDEO | Mihnea Toader, the tallest footballer in the Superliga: “In 10 months I grew 10-11 centimeters”

The defender explained how he reached this height after a spectacular growth spurt in his teens.

– Hello, Mihnea! how tall are you
– Hello! I am 2.01 meters. To be clear: 2.01 meters am.

– Basically, you are the tallest footballer in the Super League.
– Yes, from the Super League, yes!

– What is it like to be the tallest footballer in the Superliga?
– It's not something very, very special. I feel like anyone else, nothing special.

– What's your story? How much have you grown in the last few months?
– In the last months, not very much, but I think that explosion started somewhere around 16 years old. I had… I did a calculation, I was growing at about an inch a month. And in 10 months I gained somewhere 10-11 centimeters in height. Very, very much.

– Your parents are very tall, right?
– Yes. My mother is the shortest in the family and is 1.78 m. I also have a sister who is 1.85 m and my father is 1.92 m or 1.93 m.

– Do you think you will continue to grow or have you stabilized already?
– I hope I don't grow anymore, because it's enough. I think that's enough.

Mihnea Toader: “It's much easier for me in aerial duels”

– What are the advantages of being so tall and what are the disadvantages?
– The physical advantages are many. I can use my body much more easily against opponents. In aerial duels it is much easier for me. But there are also disadvantages, automatically, with this height: less mobility… There are certain disadvantages that you can work on, they don't affect that much.

– At Dinamo, how much does this help you? How do you use this “weapon”?
– It helps me a lot because I'm also a central defender and I think that's the asset of a central defender: height. It is one of the important assets.

Nickname in Dinamo's locker room: “Wembanyama”

– Did you get any nicknames from your colleagues?
– Yes, the name of a basketball player: Wembanyama or something like that, from the colleagues in the locker room.

He left FCSB for Dinamo and reveals the secret of his 2.01 meters height:

Victor Wembanyama is a professional basketball player from France. He plays in the NBA, at the San Antonio Spurs. It is 2.24 meters // PHOTO: Imago Images

– How do you deal with strikers, if they are shorter, if they are faster?
– If they are shorter, it is much easier for me, clearly. Being fast, I don't have to leave them space, because being tall, the speed is not so good. And with the strong I fight without problems.

– How hard is it to control your body in these physical duels?
– It's not at all, it's very easy.

“I fell in love with football in the gallery, at Dinamo”

– How did you start football?
– I was lucky to go to a football game for the first time, not a basketball game, because many people ask me why I don't play basketball. I was lucky enough to go to a Dinamo football match for the first time, in the gallery. From there I said «I fell in love with football, I want to become a footballer». I started at the age of 7 at Cautis Steaua Sudului, where I continued until 2018. Then I went with coach Alin Stoica, because he is still at Steaua, I went to FCSB, where I played until 2023. I didn't feel at home there. And I took the step to Dinamo, where I felt very, very well received since the juniors. I had a two-year junior period where I felt very good, I played all the matches. And then, taking the step here, it was very good for me.

– How was this transition, from FCSB to Dinamo?
– It wasn't very difficult, because I felt Dinamo “at home”. And it wasn't very difficult.

– You said you went to a match at Dinamo in the gallery. Do you remember what the exact match was?
– It was a derby, the derby… I don't know who, with FCSB, I think, 100%. With that scenography with the dogs and the violin. My skin crawled, it was incredible.

– You mentioned basketball. Never tried? Even if you started with football, didn't it tempt you to try basketball, swimming?
– In my free time I played basketball, but it doesn't appeal to me. I don't feel the same pleasure as in football.

– What are your football qualities, apart from height?
– Strength, my physique in the first place, relaxation, head game… there are more that… it depends. The decision in certain phases. Being young in this position is quite difficult, but “stealing” the job, so to speak, is easier.

“I'm inspired by Boateng and Drăgușin”

– From whom are you “stealing” jobs from Dinamo?
– From Kennedy (no Boateng).

– What would you like to “steal” from him?
– Everything. He seems to me to be the best central defender in Romania at the moment. I think it's very, very good.

– Have you always played defender or have you changed positions?
– Until the age of 12, I played central forward. Then, suddenly, in a match I found myself at center back and I did the match very well. And from there I was left with the central defender position.

– Did the height, at first, help you or confuse you?
– He has always helped me. I can't say it ever confused me. He really helped me all the time.

– How is Dinamo's locker room, especially since you are a youngster at the beginning?
– It is a very united group, with some very nice characters. From the first day until today, he helps me with everything, with advice, with absolutely everything.

Mihnea Toader: “I'm not thinking about the debut. I'm working and waiting for the moment”

– What does Zeljko Kopic ask you most often?
– To play simple. Just to play simple!

– When do you think you could debut at Dinamo, in an official match?
– I don't think. I am waiting for this moment, until then I am working, giving everything, and when the moment comes I will show up and give my best.

– What do you want in football?
– I think the best answer would be to reach the national team, the big national team, build a nice career and probably, like anyone, win as many trophies as possible.

– From the big national team, do any of the defenders inspire you?
– Yes, Radu Dragusin. I really like his playing style. He's a strong defender and the level he's reached is incredible.

– What should Dinamo supporters know about you, apart from your height?
– That when I enter the field I will give everything 100% and I will be for the club.

– How did you react when you saw it? the picture posted by Dinamo club with you, showing a big difference in height between you and the other players, and with the description: “It's not Photoshop, it's our defender, Mihnea Toader”?
– The next day after the match, at lunch, I took two hours of rest. Then when I woke up, my phone was full of notifications and I was shocked, I didn't understand why. Then when I saw that post I was also shocked and happy, inside I was very happy.