Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Monday, 18 May 2026, 00:35 / Updated Monday, 18 May 2026 00:38
Holder in University of Craiova – U Cluj 5-0David Matei (19 years old) opened the scoring, facilitating his team's path to its first title, also the first title in Bănie after a 35-year wait. In the middle of the title celebration, the midfielder gave an interview on the pitch, with his parents by his side.
In the summer of 2025, Craiova University paid 75,000 euros to bring David Matei from the second league, from Steaua Bucharest.
This first season of Matei in Bănie exceeded all expectations: 5 goals, two decisive assists and the title of champion of Romania. In the decisive match, 5-0 against U Cluj, he even opened the scoring, dedicating the goal to his father, considering that Saturday was his birthday.
After the match, during the title celebration, David gave an interview with his parents by his side.
Champion with the University of Craiova, David Matei gave an interview with his parents: “I love them!”
“It's the most beautiful thing to have my family by my side. I also dedicated the goal to my father. A more beautiful day like this has never existed for me. If I couldn't be at his birthday yesterday, I made up for it today.
They were strict when they had to be, but they let me make my own decisions. To reach this level, I think they made the right decisions, they know when to be strict and when not. I love them, they mean everything to me. They are all I have.
I want to reach as high a level as possible. I won the title here, I want to win in another country, better rated”, said the Craiova midfielder.
Asked if a call-up to the senior national team would complete the ideal season, Matei did not shy away from admitting:
“It can be said, yes. Now I have nothing to say. If Mr. Selector saw something in me and believes in me, the summons will come. But I'm young, I have time to summon me. Maybe he will surprise me now, in June. I don't know, we'll see“.
What David Matei's parents said
father: “I am the proudest father in the world, there are no words to describe the feeling. Let the manager tell you, I told him that David scores the championship goal.”
Parent: “I'm very proud and I know exactly what I grew up with. I knew he would grow up, we had and we trust him, we know he'll go far. I cried all the time for him, even when he didn't score. The more the father strengthens him, the more I give more motherly advice.”
