Raul Opruț, the left-back for Dinamo, has voiced his disappointment regarding his lack of playing time with the Romanian national team during the recent UEFA Nations League campaign.
In September and October, Romania played four matches in the Nations League, concluding with four defeats. Although Opruț was included in the final squad, he did not participate in any of the matches, leaving him feeling disheartened.
Opruț: “I Wouldn’t Go to the National Team to Sit on the Bench”
In his remarks, Opruț stated, “I was not angry; that’s too strong a word. I was disappointed. When you go to the national team, you expect to play. If I thought I would just sit on the bench or in the stands, I wouldn’t go to the national team at all.”
He elaborated, saying that the disappointment lasted for just a day when the squad was announced, after which he had to refocus and continue working hard.
“Of course, I was disappointed, but not angry as some have suggested. I went with the mindset to contribute to the national team as much as I could. There are things beyond my control that I must respect. There’s no need for negative comments. In the end, we were over 30 players; 11 play, and 5 can come off the bench,” Opruț explained.
“A day before the match against Bosnia, he came to me after practice, apologized, and asked for my understanding regarding the situation with so many players. He said to wait and see for the match against Sweden. I am not someone who complains. Nobody guarantees you play for the national team. This wasn’t my first time being called up and not playing. If you don’t play, you respect the coach’s decision and move on,” he added.
Opruț was the only outfield player selected by coach Gică Hagi who did not log any minutes in the four matches. Goalkeeper Valentin Cojocaru also did not play, while fellow Dinamo player Cătălin Cîrjan managed only brief appearances: 12 minutes in the heavy 0-6 loss to Poland and 7 minutes plus stoppage time in the 0-1 defeat to Sweden in Bucharest.
Overall, Opruț has made five appearances for the Romania national team, with only one being an official match. At Dinamo, he has been a consistent starter in recent seasons, amassing 95 appearances, scoring 7 goals and providing 3 assists. His market value is estimated at €1.7 million, according to specialized websites.
