Denis Ciobotariu, a 28-year-old central defender, currently has a two-year contract with Rapid, yet he may leave the Superligă during this transfer window. Reports indicate that he has received two offers from foreign clubs, and transfer negotiations are underway.
Rapid is currently in a training camp in Austria, where several players, including those under coach Daniel Pancu, are exploring offers and may leave Giulești during this mercato.
Besides the interest from Turkish club Gaziantep in Cristi Manea, another player from Rapid’s defense, Denis Ciobotariu, has received interest from two international clubs.
Denis Ciobotariu on the Verge of Leaving Rapid
According to club sources, “We are talking about two offers! One recent from Greece and another from Poland.” The Greek club Iraklis, newly promoted to the top league, has made a recent offer. However, the likelihood of Ciobotariu moving to Greece seems slim as he is not enticed by the conditions offered.
Earlier this year, discussions occurred with GKS Katowice, which was prepared to pay €400,000 for Ciobotariu’s transfer, but the player rejected the move. Nonetheless, the Polish team, which finished fifth in the 2025-2026 Ekstraklasa season, remains keen on acquiring him.
Caretaking a salary of up to €20,000 per month, Ciobotariu could soon reach an agreement for a transfer, contingent on a financial arrangement, as stated by GSP.RO.
Frustration Over Limited Playing Time
Ciobotariu, valued at €900,000, appears likely to leave Rapid, especially since he has not been a regular in the squad under Costel Gâlcă and is dissatisfied with his bench role.
Before the season concluded, in which he only participated in 22 matches, Ciobotariu had informed his agent to seek a new team, paving the way for a potential separation from Rapid.
Previously, there were talks of a transfer to Major League Soccer with New England Revolution, but discussions fell through quickly.
It remains to be seen if Denis Ciobotariu will finalize a transfer to Poland in the coming days and how his career will develop in the new competitive season.
Throughout his career, Ciobotariu has played for teams such as Chindia Târgoviște, Dinamo București, CFR Cluj, FC Voluntari, and Sepsi Sf. Gheorghe, before joining Rapid.
