Article by Alexandru Barbu, Daniel Grigore – Published Thursday, November 13, 2025, 12:44 / Updated Thursday, November 13, 2025 12:48
Adrian Ropotan, 39 years old, former Dynamo player barely installed as a coach for the U19 team of the “red dogs”, believes that the midfielder Cătălin Cîrjan should have been called up for this month's action of the national team.
On November 15, the “tricolors” will play in Bosnia a decisive match for second place in the group. Three days later, Mircea Lucescu's students will receive, in Ploiești, the visit of the representative team from San Marino.
For these matches, Mircea Lucescu left out of the team players he had called up last month. Notable names are Alexandru Dobre and Cătălin Cîrjan, the captains of Rapid and Dinamo, respectively.
Ropotan says that the selector should have found a place for Cătălin Cîrjan, whom he would have seen instead of Florin Tănase.
Ropotan believes that the dynamist Cîrjan deserved to be summoned instead of Florin Tănase
“Considering what you have here, clearly Dobre should have been part of the batch. But she's part of the extended batch.
I would have liked to see Cîrjan as well, how he gets involved in Dinamo's game and how he evolves. From my point of view, it would be worth it [să fie acolo]. Who to take out?
Olaru is a labor player, he does both phases for you, but he does not have as good a last pass as Cîrjan. He has the vision of the last pass, he is more of a number 8 or number 10.
Many will say I have something with FCSB – I don't – but I think so I would have seen him [pe Cîrjan] instead of Tănase. I like Cîrjan more“, said Ropotan at GSP Live.
Also present at the show, the former international Julian the Apostle Ropotan was right:
“I would have seen a Dobre there. He is a player who looked good in this period, very good, strong. I don't know if he would have played, but I think he could have been the delight of the team.”
Cătălin Cîrjan: “I wasn't at my best level”
Even Cătălin Cîrjan spoke about the fact that he was skipped over to this action.
“I can't say I'm upset, I'm my own biggest critic and I know very well that I haven't been at my best in the last few league games. But I'll keep working and hopefully I'll be there for the next calls,” he said after the 4-0 win over Csikszereda.
