Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 09:31 / Updated Tuesday, January 27, 2026 09:31
Florin Prunea (57 years old) spoke about the decision taken by Gigi Becali, the owner of FCSB. The financier of the champion declared that Ștefan Târnovanu will no longer defend in the last 7 matches of the championship, his place being taken by Matei Popa (18 years old), an U21 goalkeeper.
The former Romanian international considers this decision a risky one, considering the lack of experience and the pressure of the last matches that will decide whether the team will enter the play-offs. He believes that Lukas Zima, the goalkeeper brought in at the beginning of 2025, deserves more chances in the champion's goal.
Florin Prunea: “God forbid if he commits it to you”
The FCSB boss visited the champions' training base yesterday to speak to the players following their disastrous start to the year. One of the decisions announced by Becali is the introduction of Matei Popa in the goal of the team. He would appear in the remaining 7 games of the regular season.
Florin Prunea, goalkeeper with 41 matches for the Romanian national team, does not consider this decision to be the most suitable for FCSB.
“Using the U21 player in goal is about the biggest advantage. But to take out Târnovanu, to have Zima, for whom you paid several hundred thousand euros, and not to give him a chance either seems like a thing to me… But they know what they have to do. The teams have many opportunities against them. It's not playing the team to say that you put him in to defend two or three crosses. Exposing him is a very big risk for Popa as well. God forbid if he commits it to you at a match!
If the team is playing and has no balls in the goal, yes. But the team is not playing at the moment. Târnovanu, if he plays a good game against Fenerbahce, can you still change him?“, said Florin Prunea, according to Digi Sport.
The first time I wanted to punish him (No. Târnovanu), to defend Zima, but in these 7 matches we decided to defend with an under goalkeeper, not to stand behind him anymore, because we can't win the matches with Toma.
– Gigi Becali, FCSB patron
Former junior of LPS Bihor Oradea, Matei Popa is the son of FCSB goalkeeping coach, former Oradean international Marius Popa, former goalkeeper for teams such as Bihor Oradea, Poli Timișoara or Cluj University.
Matei Popa (right). Photo: Ionuț Iordache (GSP.RO)
