OLI TOOK HIS CHILD!

There was a big surprise last evening, on the transfer market: Mirel Rădoi was sold to Al-Hilal! Even if the papers were not signed, the clubs and the player agreed with respect to all the clauses. In stead of hid captain, Steaua will cash 5 millions euro plus VAT, and Mirel will receive 1,2 millions euro every year from the 4 years provided in the agreement made with the Saudi!

Why did they hurry up with the transfer?

Cosmin Olăroiu declared 10 days ago that he wants very much for Rădoi to play at Al-Hilal, but nobody thought that the transfer will be made. Gigi Becali hopes to sell him to an important team from occidental Europe, "there where the value gives him the right to play". But in the last 48 hours, things changed.

Oli lost the most important player in the team, Khaled Aziz, injured in a match of the national team of Saudi Arabia. By chance or not, Aziz played exactly on Mirel’s post central midfield. At that moment, the former coach from Ghencea went to the club chiefs and told them straight: "I want Rădoi in stead of the player Khaled! He is avery good football player and he does not cost very much!".

The sheiks were very interested about this idea and they send a very clear offer: 6 millions euro, including VAT. Becali and the other officials from Steaua tried to obtain a bigger amount, "I won’t sell him with less than 10 millions!", but taking into consideration the captain opinion, who is tired with waiting for an answer from Inter Milano or another occidental club, they finally accepted the Arabians proposalThe news from  Antena 1 announced the transfer on Tuesday!

How does Steaua look without Rădoi?
Mirel’s transfer will floor Lăcătuş, who must change the play system and choose the starting team. In fact, the couple of central midfield is already known Goian-Ghionea, while Ovidiu Petre will be the surest variant for the post of stopper.
Zapata - Ogăraru, Goian, Ghionea, P. Marin - Ov. Petre - Nicoliţă, Dayro, A. Ionescu, Toja - Kapetanos

150.000 dollars paid Steaua in the summer of 2000 in order to transfer Mirel from Extensiv Craiova

"He had the best salary here!"

Olăroiu said on GSP TV that Mirel accepted already
- Mr. Olăroiu, it is true that you’ll take Rădoi?
- There are big chances. Everything will be decided very fast. I have already spoken with him and I have his agreement. Steaua and Al-Hilal has to agree about the transfer amount, that’s all. Mirel has almost 28 years old and I do not know if can wait another offer from Europe which might never come.

- Isn’t this a backwards step to play in Saudi Arabia?
- It is a backwards step in other’s mind. Al-Hilal reached a high level, which Rădoi deserves. We want to take the Asian Champions League. 

-What salary is he going to have there?
- Not even in Europe could he gain this money. It is about 4 millions, money prepared by the officials from Al-Hilal for him. He needs to think about his family now.

- How difficult was it for you to convince the sheiks to bring him?
- They accepted immediately when I told them about him! We had some problems at the team and I asked Mirel. Actually, this is an old wish I had and because Rădoi didn’t transfer this summer either, I made an offer. The financial crisis didn’t affect us. 

"After Rădoi will leave from Steaua many other young players could confirm and show their qualities"
Cosmin Olăroiu, the coach from Al-Hilal

“OLI IS NO. 1!”

Although in the last 9 years, since he plays at a high level in Romania, Rădoi had ben traioned by many important coaches, he says that Olăroiu remains, undoubtedly, the most valorous. “For me, Oli is no. 1. I said this before and I will always say this thing”. At Extensiv, Steaua and the national team, Mirel worked with 12 coaches: Cîrţu, Piţurcă, Olăroiu, Zenga, Dumitriu, Protasov, Hagi, Pedrazzini, Lăcătuş, Dorinel Munteanu, Boloni, Iordănescu.

"Maybe Gigi will increase his salary with 200.000 euro and he won’t leave. Anything can happen; nothing is sure"
MITICĂ DRAGOMIR, the president from LPF

The last discussion!

To over 3.000 kilometers from Bucharest and to over 5.000 kilometers from Riad, in the training camp of Steaua from Oliva Nova, Rădoi waited eagerly the confirming fax of his transfer to Al-Hilal. Immediately after the training finished, Mirel spoke with Valeriu Argăseală. "Please come to discuss a little", said MirelArgăseală declared on GSP TV that they still negotiate with the Arabians

Barefooted and perspired, set on the sidewalk border in from of the hotel.  "It is better to leave now. I think this is the last train for me. I am 28 years old; I have to think about the future of my family now. This is my chance!" these were the words which Rădoi addressed to Argăseală, who listened and approved him from his gestures that the decision he had taken, of leaving Steaua, is the most proper. 

"Do you really think that Mirel will win 1,2 millions euro? The amounts from Saudi Arabia are even smaller than the ones spread"
ILIE BALACI, manager U Craiova

"Mirel’s decision will matter in this transfer. I have spoken today with him about the transfer  and he was very happy"
VALERIU ARGĂSEALĂ, the president from Steaua
He may loose the national team
The former spotter Anghel Iordănescu considers Mirel Rădoi’s transfer to Al-Hilal would be a backwards step and he could risk this way to loose the national team. "If I were Piţurcă, I would give up Rădoi! It is very hard to watch him in the Saudi Arabia. I don’t think that Mirel would have any motivation if he goes there. Anyway, he would be the most valuable player from Saudi Arabia", declared Iordănescu on sport.ro.

19 is the place occupied by Rădoi in the all-time classification of the red-blue after the no. of matches played for Steaua in League I, with 200 matches. The first one is Tudorel Stoica (369)

50 matches played Rădoi for Steaua in the European cups, being overtaken only by Marius Lăcătuş (71)

6,62 is the average of the gsp marks  received by Rădoi in this championship, the best mark from all the players from Steaua

8 years and a half have passed since Mirel Rădoi came in  Ghencea. Steaua has won 3 titles of championship and two Super-cups in this period

49 matches played Mirel Rădoi for the national team. He began in 2000 in a match with Algeria, 2-3, and he scored one goal