Locotoro
Prince of Zamunda
- Sep 2, 2004
- 9,412
- 14,103
Saw this interesting extract in a Goal.com article.
Chiriches' ball skills undoubtedly improved when he moved to Benfica at just 17 years old, training alongside players like Rui Costa. An injury interrupted his progress in Portugal, however, and the youngster returned to Romania in 2008, moving to International.
When the club was demoted due to financial troubles in 2010, Chiriches switched to Pandurii Targu Jiu, and in January 2012, having made his debut for the national team, signed for Steaua. That's where his career really took off.
Last summer, there was reported interest from Barcelona and Milan, and Steaua's controversial owner Gigi Becali commented that he had no doubt that the player would easily walk into any team in the world.
Then came Romania's disastrous 4-3 defeat to Slovenia in a friendly in August, and those words came back to haunt Chiriches.
"He will never make it to Barcelona if he continues to make mistakes like that," fumed former national coach Anghel Iordanescu, while Gheorghe Hagi claimed: "He commits errors in the area where you just can’t do that."
Such criticism could have been a blow to a young player, but Chiriches proved to be mentally strong and went on to produce his best season to date. Not only did he help Steaua win their first championship title since 2006 in his first season with the club, the cultured centre-back also performed brilliantly in Europa League.
Chiriches' ball skills undoubtedly improved when he moved to Benfica at just 17 years old, training alongside players like Rui Costa. An injury interrupted his progress in Portugal, however, and the youngster returned to Romania in 2008, moving to International.
When the club was demoted due to financial troubles in 2010, Chiriches switched to Pandurii Targu Jiu, and in January 2012, having made his debut for the national team, signed for Steaua. That's where his career really took off.
Last summer, there was reported interest from Barcelona and Milan, and Steaua's controversial owner Gigi Becali commented that he had no doubt that the player would easily walk into any team in the world.
Then came Romania's disastrous 4-3 defeat to Slovenia in a friendly in August, and those words came back to haunt Chiriches.
"He will never make it to Barcelona if he continues to make mistakes like that," fumed former national coach Anghel Iordanescu, while Gheorghe Hagi claimed: "He commits errors in the area where you just can’t do that."
Such criticism could have been a blow to a young player, but Chiriches proved to be mentally strong and went on to produce his best season to date. Not only did he help Steaua win their first championship title since 2006 in his first season with the club, the cultured centre-back also performed brilliantly in Europa League.
