Octavian Popescu (footballer, born 2002)

Octavian George Popescu (born 27 December 2002) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger or an attacking midfielder for Liga I club FCSB.

For other people with the same name, see Octavian Popescu.
Octavian Popescu
Personal information
Full name Octavian George Popescu
Date of birth (2002-12-27) 27 December 2002
Place of birth Târgoviște, Romania
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 FCSB
Number 9
Youth career
2011–2014 Grup Școlar Agricol Nucet
2014–2020 Regal Sport București
2019 → Rapid București (loan)
2019–2020 → Universitatea Craiova (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– FCSB 47 (8)
National team‡
2021– Romania U21 4 (0)
2021 Romania Olympic 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 December 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2021

Club career

On 20 September 2020, aged 17, Popescu made his debut for FCSB in a Liga I match against FC Argeș Pitești, after coming on for Robert Ion in the 50th minute of the eventual 3–0 win.[1] He scored his first career goal and also offered an assist on 30 January 2021, in a 3–1 victory against Politehnica Iași at the Arena Națională.[2]

His release clause was set at a Romanian record of €100 million.[3]

International career

Popescu did not represent Romania at any junior level prior to 2021, despite being considered a talented prospect.[4][5] He made his debut for the under-21 side in March 2021, aged 18, after entering as a substitute in the group stage matches of the 2021 UEFA European Championship against Hungary and Germany.

Player profile

Style of play

Popescu's main qualities are speed and explosion,[6] with a very good dribbling and very good technique.[7] He strikes the ball with both left and right feet.[6] His preferred position could be that of attacking midfielder, but he has also adapted well as a winger.[7]

Reception

His breakthrough in the senior team of FCSB was highly regarded by Romanian pundits; Cornel Dinu described Popescu as a "very talented kid of extraordinary quality" who "has similarities to Florea Dumitrache",[8] while his former coach Daniel Pancu regarded him a "fantastic talent".[7] Dinu continued to praise him and compared him to Adrian Mutu, considering Popescu can have a much more successful career due to a superior penetrating force.

Former international Basarab Panduru described him as a versatile player.[9] Dorinel Munteanu described him as a "youngster who looks different from what we have in Romania". He also said "from my generation, from [Gheorghe] Hagi—not even Adrian Mutu, but from Hagi—I have never seen such a lightness to play in depth or to provide the last pass".[10] In February 2021, former international Gabi Balint said Popescu "is a quick-thinking genius, just as Gheorghe Hagi was".[6]

Career statistics

Club
As of 5 December 2021.[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FCSB 2020–21 Liga I 324001[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0344
2021–22 Liga I 154002[lower-alpha 3]000174
Career total 478003010518
  1. Appearance in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearance in Supercupa României
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

FCSB

References
  1. Octavian Popescu, jucătorul “furat” Craiovei, a debutat la FCSB! fanatik.ro (in Romanian)
  2. Octavian Popescu, omul serii în FCSB - Poli Iași! Ilie Dumitrescu și Gabi Balint, impresionați de puștiul de 18 ani digisport.ro (in Romanian)
  3. "Clauza pe care Gigi Becali i-a fixat-o lui Denis Haruț! Cum arată topul starurilor de la FCSB". digisport.ro (in Romanian). 9 February 2021.
  4. "FRF l-a ignorat pe noul Dobrin! În trecut a mai existat un caz asemănător". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 1 February 2021.
  5. "Mihai Stoichiță, dezvăluiri incredibile despre Octavian Popescu: "Craiova nu l-a lăsat la lot!"". ProSport (in Romanian). 3 February 2021.
  6. "Balint, discurs FANTASTIC despre Octavian Popescu: "E ca Hagi, are geniu!"". Pro X (in Romanian). 2 February 2021.
  7. ""E din categoria lui Dobrin! Iti sare in ochi de la 100 de metri!" Ce club ar fi putut sa-l transfere pe Octavian Popescu inainte de FCSB si Craiova". Pro X (in Romanian). 31 January 2021.
  8. "Cornel Dinu, cuvinte mari despre un fotbalist de la FCSB! L-a asemănat cu marele Florea Dumitrache: "Seamănă izbitor cu el. Uitaţi-vă cum ţine mingea la picior!"". Telekom Sport (in Romanian). 23 November 2020.
  9. "Octavian Popescu, comparat cu Adrian Mutu. Cornel Dinu: "Asta ne șochează"". Fanatik (in Romanian). 2 February 2021.
  10. ""De la Hagi n-am mai văzut așa ceva". Octavian Popescu, lăudat de două legende: "Sunt puțini în lume care pot asta"". Digi Sport (in Romanian). 4 February 2021.
  11. Octavian Popescu at Soccerway. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  12. "FOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj a câștigat Supercupa României!" [PHOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj won the Romanian Supercup!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
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