Article by Adrian Duţă, Robert Vîrdol – Published Saturday, 06 June 2026 23:40 / Updated Saturday, 06 June 2026 23:53
Romania – Wales 2-1. David Matei (19 years old), the midfielder of the “tricolor” national team, spoke about the victory in Ghencea and said what message the selector Gheorghe Hagi sent him.
The player from Craiova made his senior national team debut with Georgia, score 1-1. With Wales, he came on in the 70th minute, replacing captain Nicolae Stanciu. Matei was decisive against the Welsh, managing to assist Adrian Rus' goal.
The midfielder was one step away from scoring, hitting the bar with a left-footed shot. At the end of the game, he took the shirt of David Brooks, the goalscorer of Wales, striker registered at Bournemouth, the revelation of the Premier League.
David Matei: “Mr. Hagi told me not to be afraid”
“Of course I dreamed of the national team, but I didn't think it would happen in such a short time. Mr. Hagi told me not to be afraid. He can't praise me, he just told me to keep it that way, after the game. The chemistry from Craiova worked tonight”, said Matei, in the mixed area.
When asked about the Steaua stadium, where he played until a year ago, Matei said: “Any stadium where I play for the national team is extraordinary, not just in Ghencea.”
Matei: “I got the shirt from Brooks. I like Premier League football”
“I think the right term for this year is “sensational''. I think it was seen that we had no emotions. When you enter the field, you don't enter with emotions. As I said, it is an honor to play for the national team and I hope that in the fall we will be able to play good matches.
I took a lot from Mr. Hagi. I tried to absorb everything he said and tried to learn as many things as possible. I don't think there is a player who hasn't watched Hagi. It was a successful action in these two matches. We can do more, but it was a good week”, continued Matei.
The Craiova player posed for a photo in the Wales goalscorer's shirt and said: “I got the shirt from Brooks. I like Premier League football but I don't know if that's where you see me in the future.”
7was Matei's score in GSP: He came on in the 70th minute instead of Stanciu. Good for everything, with an assist, with a shot that hit the crossbar
VIDEO. What David Matei said, after Romania – Wales
