The official website of Ferencvaros has targeted Romania’s national team coach, Gheorghe Hagi, regarding his decision to exclude midfielder Marius Corbu from the previous call-up to the national squad. This announcement came after Romania suffered four consecutive defeats in the Nations League.
Marius Corbu, now in his second season with Ferencvaros, quickly established himself as a key player and helped his team qualify for the Europa League, debuting with a 3-1 win against Celtic in the group stage. However, his omission from Hagi’s plans has drawn sharp criticism from Hungarian fans.
In Hagi’s first official matches as coach, Romania experienced a dismal run, losing all four games: 1-2 against Sweden, 2-4 against Bosnia, 0-6 against Poland, and 0-1 against Sweden.
Hungarians Call Hagi’s Decision on Corbu “Inexplicable”
Following the team’s failures, the Hungarian publication ulloi129.hu emphasized that Corbu’s absence has reignited discussions in Romania, calling it an “inexplicable” decision given the dire circumstances.
“We are not bothered by this at all. Romania has lost all four of its Nations League matches, and clearly, everyone has suddenly become a coach in their own right,” they stated.
The decision not to include Corbu sparked outrage in Romania as soon as the squad was announced. One Romanian outlet put Corbu on a list of inexplicable absences, while another raised concerns about Hagi’s choices after the fourth defeat, questioning the exclusion of a player performing well in Europe.
It took four losses for many to realize the potential of Corbu at Ferencvaros, where he has been thriving.
“Of course, we are not particularly sad about Corbu’s absence or Romania’s national team’s failures. Four defeats in four matches—this is how we want Romania!” concluded the Hungarian commentary.
Corbu Reflects on His Exclusion from Hagi’s Squad
At the end of September, Corbu discussed with the Hungarian media how he had initially been included in Romania’s extended squad. However, he was ultimately not selected among the 30 players finalized by Hagi.
“Being included in the large squad of the national team fills me with pride, as I have been among many good players and could be among the best in the country. At the same time, I have experienced a similar situation before, but unfortunately, I have not yet received the final invitation, so I am still waiting for the next opportunity. Being part of the national team at any age group is a different experience from childhood. For me, it was not a burden or any specific pressure; I simply enjoyed the situation. It was a great honor to be among the best twenty players in a country, and this in itself was serious recognition for me.” – Marius Corbu, September 30
