Article by Daniel Grigore – Published on Sunday, 01 February 2026, 23:09 / Updated on Sunday, 01 February 2026 23:09
Gigi Becali closely followed Matei Popa (18 years old) in his debut at FCSB, in tonight's win with Csikszereda (1-0), and announced that he will remain the holder of the champion's goal.
In order to stop using the under-21 player as a field footballer, Gigi Becali ordered the young goalkeeper Matei Popa to defend against those from Csikszereda.
Popa passed this first test with flying colours, keeping the gate intact. He also had 6 interventions, on shots squared by the guests.
After the match, Gigi Becali revealed the only dissatisfaction he had with his game – the fact that he would have complicated some clearances -, but announced that he will continue in goal, including against the University of Craiova, over two stages.
Gigi Becali followed Matei Popa and announced the decision: “Done, goodbye!”
“I risked a lot, that's all. I saw what football means with an extra man. Or with a minus. That is, to play with the “under” because that's how Burleanu forces you. We dominated.
He didn't have [intervenții]but his safety was seen in his movements. His courage… And show the last free kick the trickster took. MM told me that his mother was also at the match.
But I'll tell his father, so he knows. Let him stop raising his head, let him see where he hits, that he doesn't pass at 50 meters, that you are not a computer. Hit the ball, in front, where it goes. You have no way of being a computer. There, indeed, he went wrong. He wanted to show that he was stable, but there is no such thing.
Now that's it, he's defended a match and bye, he's just there! So what, will the ball reach him? Even with Craiova, the ball will not reach him. And with referees, also for nothing”, Becali commented to PrimaSport.
