“It was a mess, he restored order and good results”

The midfielder is currently playing at Lokomotiv Plovdiv, a club with which he is fighting for a place in the European Cups. Itu was decisive on many occasions and although he is a midfielder by origin, he was frequently used on the right wing.

Cătălin Itu, noted in Bulgaria

– Cătălin, there is more and more talk about the Levski Sofia leader's interest in you. How are you handling these rumors and how close are you to a major new career step?
– Everything was at the level of discussion, as far as I know. I don't have concrete information and I haven't been contacted directly by the club, but from what my agents have told me, they would have spoken to someone within the Levski club and I would have been on their transfer list. Perhaps disagreements between the clubs or Levski's transfer strategy prevented the move from happening. From what I have discussed with the impresarios, I would be on the list for the summer, but I cannot confirm, it is just a guess based on the information they have provided.

– The club raised its value after you arrived, they weren't fighting for the podium.
– Yes, I found it at a level you don't think you could reach at the beginning of the journey. Forming a good group and with the coach doing a good job, we had surprising results against the teams that played in Europe, Levski, Ludogorets, twice 1-1, in the round I scored, and they equalized in the 90+8th minute.

– Can Ludogorets be beaten for the title in Romania?
– I think it would be in the top four. I can't guarantee anything. We have very good teams in Romania, such as Craiova, Dinamo, Rapid and FCSB, even if they didn't make the play-offs, and CFR, which miraculously recovered after what happened recently.

Cătălin Itu named the favorite for the title: “I see her as the strongest”

– How do you think CFR after Pancu's arrival?
– He had a positive influence on the group. It was a tumble and he restored order and good results, 10 wins in a row.

– Does CFR have a chance for the title? Who do you see as a favorite?
– I think they are still playing and have a relatively good chance. The points are halved and anything can happen, but Craiova has a strong team, at a better level than CFR at the moment. It is the strongest now, but in the play-offs the matches are different from the regular championship. The pressure from the play-offs, together with the experience of winning championships, can give CFR an advantage, but I see Craiova stronger at the moment. However, I would like CFR to have the performances they had when I was there again or to play in Europe. Next, Rapid and Dinamo are strong, and Argeș is a pleasant surprise, to be newly promoted and to play in the play-offs, to win with FCSB twice and now with Dinamo, is impressive.

– If you were to compare with your time in Cluj, what do they lack for consecutive titles?
– I don't know if they are missing something. When I was there, it was a very strong team and very close competition for the position, three players for each position. The team was fighting in Europe and in the championship. It was such a big batch that the reserves could be better than the starters when they came in. Even FCSB did not have the group it has now.

Cătălin Itu, player at Lokomotiv Plovidv // PHOTO: Instagram

– Which Under 21 player do you like from the current batch of the CFR?
– Biliboc, from my point of view, is a very good player, with very good executions. I didn't know him before, only since he came to CFR. I was pleasantly surprised. He scored important goals in decisive moments with strong teams. He seems to me to be a talented player with perspective and great transfer potential.

The Romanian midfielder also analyzed the situation of the FCSB champions: “They had good and relatively good matches in Europe”

– How did you see FCSB's results this season? What impression did they leave on you?
– We can't say that they didn't have results, because they had good and relatively good matches in Europe. In the championship, however, they had weaker games, and here the difference was made. Until the last stages I thought they would catch the play-off, but the lost matches with the lower ranked teams mattered. Anyway, it remains one of the best teams in Romania and I think they will fight for a place in the Conference League.

– We can have a tough game, FCSB could meet Dinamo, Rapid or CFR, will we be able to have a tough match, with stakes?
– Yes, if they manage to play, we will have a very strong match for the Conference League. However, let's not forget that FCSB successfully represented Romania in Europe. For how much was invested, he deserves good results, even if he didn't catch the play-off.

4 goals and 5 assistshas Cătălin Itu for Lokomotiv Plovdiv

– How do you see your future in the next 5 years? Do you want to return to the Superliga or catch a transfer also abroad?
– I had a bad experience in Iasi and, at the moment, I don't know what will happen next. I am under contract with Lokomotiv and I think my immediate future will be outside the country, to play as well as possible and get a good transfer in the next mercato periods. If the opportunity arises to return to Romania, I cannot say no, because it is my country, I love it and I played here, including the U21 National Team. However, I would like a good transfer to Europe in the next period.

– How do you get along with Chindriș, being two Romanians in Plovdiv?
– Okay, we know each other from U21. I'm from Dej, he's from Cluj. When I came to the club, the coach asked me about him and I said he is a good player. He had a period in which he did not play, but since the winter he has been playing as a starter. He had a small injury but recovered. I get along well with him, he is a serious boy.

Who is Cătălin Itu?

Cătălin Itu is a four-time champion of Romania with CFR Cluj and also has a Supercup in his record, also with Transylvania. From July 2025, the midfielder plays in Bulgaria, at Lokomotiv Plovdiv, during which he scored four times and provided five decisive assists.

Quoted at 500,000 euros by Transfermarkt, Itu also visited Unirea Dej, Academia Hagi, CFR Cluj, Dinamo, Poli Iași and Krumovgrad. The midfielder was also present at the 2021 European Championship, alongside the under-21 team of the “tricolors”.