Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a number of reports regarding Arsenal and an interest in FCSB starlet Ianis Stoica.
There was a whole lot of confusion over some claims made by their very outspoken owner Gigi Becali, which was followed by the youngster wanting to change agents.
Becali had also come forward to say he wasn’t entirely aware of Arsenal’s interest in the player, before subsequently claiming he had rejected a €7m offer from the Gunners for his protégé.
He’s known to often over exaggerate, and this could easily be another one of those cases, but he’s very adamant on one thing, which is that Stoica isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Speaking to ProSport, Becali made it clear he wants the youngster to stay at FCSB for a while yet, especially since he is performing well at the tender age of 19.
He said: “Things are clear with Ianis Stoica. That I asked €10m for Ianis Stoica even though I was offered €7m is another matter. I know why I asked for that money, and I know why I said that publicly.
“But for me, things are very clear. You won’t see 18 or 19-year-old players leave me. I’m not going to let go of young footballers from FCSB after two or three showers taken in my team’s locker room”.
The Romanian owner even set a potential date for when he would sell Stoica, which won’t be of much use to the Gunners if they had plans to use him at the Emirates in the next few years.
He continued: “I will do the same with Tavi Popescu. And he is a very promising player. However, you will not see me let these young people go, and Tănase and Coman will sit and look at them. I also have my strategy and we will make the transfers one by one.
“Whoever did his job for Becali, and I am satisfied with him, it will be his turn to leave. Ianis Stoica is just beginning. So is Tavi Popescu. They will leave me at the age of 23-24”.
That means the owner doesn’t intend on letting his starlet go for another four years, meaning that either Arsenal are going to have to wait, or they will simply have to really convince him with a far better offer because we all know money talks.
