Cristi Săpunaru, subtle attack on Rapid? “You're an amateur bringing in a player and not knowing where to put him”
Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Saturday, April 18, 2026, 1:00 p.m. / Updated Saturday, April 18, 2026, 1:01 p.m.
Cristian Săpunaru, former central defender and captain of Rapid, spoke about the club's transfer policy and how some players brought in in recent years were managed.
The former player from Giulesti analyzed the situation of the team and referred mainly to the transfer of Olimpiu Moruțan, brought to Rapid during the winter mercato period, but also to the way certain decisions regarding the positioning of players on the field were managed, stating that it is wrong to bring a footballer and not know exactly where to use him.
Cristi Săpunaru, about Rapid's transfers: “You're an amateur at bringing in a footballer and not knowing where to put him”
Cristian Săpunaru questioned the way in which the integration of offensive players was managed, considering that the decisions were not always clear.
“When you brought Moruțan, in addition to all the pressure you put on him… Moruțan can't solve it by himself. You couldn't take out Dobre, who was a goalscorer, nor Petrila, who is the best offensive player that Rapid has. I think he was brought in as number 10.
You're a fan of bringing in a footballer and not knowing where to put him. I don't think so. They probably brought him in to pair up with Christensen“, Săpunaru said, according to digisport.ro.
Career ended a year ago
Cristian Săpunaru officially retired on May 19, 2025, after the match with CFR Cluj, ending a career in which he collected 212 matches for Rapid. Săpunaru won 10 trophies in his career, including the Europa League with Porto (2011). With Rapid he won the Romanian Cup and Supercup
Although there were discussions for a possible integration into the club's staff, the negotiations did not materialize, and the former captain is not currently part of the club's administrative or technical structure.
