Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 3:55 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 3:56 p.m.
Cristi Săpunaru, former captain of Rapid, commented on Alex Dobre's gestures when he was changed to Rapid – FC Argeș 0-0.
Alex Dobre put on a “show” in the game in stage #4 of the play-off: he was replaced by Gâlcă, he refused to shake hands with his teammates, and during the statements he reproached Gâlcă for not using a tactic that would help him. Cristian Săpunaru found the statements inappropriate, especially from the position of team captain.
Cristi Săpunaru, virulent to Alex Dobre: ”You are not allowed to have this reaction. Why are you saying this now?”
“I put his totally wrong reaction on the poor form of the last period, on the pressure on Rapid who are fighting for the European cups. It was mandatory to win this match, especially since CFR was playing at home with Dinamo and was the favorite.
I think that you are not allowed from the position of captain to have this reaction. It's my opinion, so people don't say I'm sticking my stick through the fence. Any other player can have it, but you're the one who has to tell them they can't do that. It's not nice. He says that he greeted his colleagues afterwards. In any case, you can't do this gesture in front of everyone.
Why does this statement appear when it's harder? Why didn't he say the tactics didn't suit him when they were getting results? Rapid did not change tactics. They didn't change on the fly. She remained consistent with the idea that Costel Gâlcă had. You can't blame the coach. Rapid didn't change anything to harm any player. There were matches when Dobre played badly and Petrila was sent off, who did not have a similar reaction”, said Cristian Săpunaru on Digi Sport Special.
He must understand that he is the captain, he is in a top team in Romania with supporters and he is appreciated. He must give these things back. How many times he played well he was applauded. Supporters held him in their arms. When you don't play well, you get scolded and it's their right because they pay the ticket.
I don't want to analyze him personally. I don't think it's the main factor. He was put on a pedestal and now everything is turning against him
-Cristian Săpunaru
Ranking in the Superliga play-off
