Agent feels Arsenal loanee Catalin Cirjan made bad transfer decision

Arsenal plan to offload Albert Sambi Lokonga permanently in the summer

Agent criticizes Catalin Cirjan’s transfer decision

Agent Florin Manea has voiced his concerns regarding Arsenal loanee Catalin Cirjan’s decision to return to Romania to play for FC Rapid.

Manea, known for his candidness with the press, criticized Cirjan’s choice, stating that the young talent should have remained in English football, irrespective of the club.

“Cîrjan is back. I think he made a mistake by returning to Romania. You don’t play for Arsenal, good, you go to Bournemouth, Luton, Brentford. There are a lot of teams and you have to try to stay in the big game,” said Manea.

“That’s what I was talking to Radu Dragușin about. The level of training is incredible. The moment you drop this level and train at the intensity here, you lose a lot and it’s hard to come back. There’s a big difference between Italy and England, let alone Romania and England.”

Cirjan, who joined Arsenal in 2019 from Viitorul Domnesti, failed to secure a first-team debut despite being part of the Gunners’ U-18 and U-21 squads. Although he made the bench for a couple of Europa League fixtures in the 2023/23 season, opportunities for top-flight action eluded him.

Now, with a bad season at FC Rapid, where he hasn’t featured since January after making just 18 appearances, Cirjan’s future remains uncertain. Despite the Romanian club having the option to make his loan permanent in the summer, it seems unlikely given his underwhelming performances.

Should Cirjan return to London, he still has a contract with Arsenal until 2025. However, Manea’s remarks underscore the importance of strategic career moves for young players like Catalin Cirjan, emphasizing the significance of remaining in competitive environments to nurture talent and enhance prospects for advancement in the footballing world.

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