Constantin Budescu

Constantin Valentin Budescu (Romanian pronunciation: [konstanˈtin valenˈtin buˈdesku]; born 19 February 1989) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a forward for Liga I club Farul Constanța.

Constantin Budescu
Budescu with Romania in 2015
Personal information
Full name Constantin Valentin Budescu
Date of birth (1989-02-19) 19 February 1989
Place of birth Manasia, Romania
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
 Farul Constanța
Number 10
Youth career
2001–2003 Rapid Sălciile
2003–2005 Petrolul Ploiești
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2010 Petrolul Ploiești 149 (46)
2011–2016 Astra Giurgiu 115 (43)
2011 Astra II 5 (1)
2016–2017 Dalian Yifang 4 (0)
2016 → Astra Giurgiu (loan) 15 (4)
2017 Astra Giurgiu 12 (2)
2017–2018 FCSB 27 (10)
2018–2019 Al-Shabab 22 (7)
2019–2021 Astra Giurgiu 37 (14)
2021 Damac 12 (0)
2021–2022 FCSB 10 (1)
2022 Voluntari 11 (2)
2022–2023 Petrolul Ploiești 20 (3)
2023– Farul Constanța 9 (2)
International career‡
2014–2021 Romania 14 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2021

Budescu began his senior career at Petrolul Ploiești, amassing over 150 appearances throughout the course of six seasons before transferring to rival team Astra Ploiești in 2011. With the latter side, which relocated to Giurgiu, he won one Liga I, one Cupa României and one Supercupa României. Since first leaving Astra in 2016, he has had multiple brief spells, of which three abroad with clubs in China and Saudi Arabia.

Budescu registered his debut for the Romania national team in 2015, at age 26. In 2017, he was awarded the Romanian Footballer of the Year trophy by the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper.

Club career

Early career / Petrolul Ploiești

Budescu was born in Manasia, a commune near Urziceni, Ialomița County. At the age of 12, with his first team Rapid Sălciile, he once scored "13 goals in one match".[1] In 2007, Budescu made his debut in the Liga II for Petrolul Ploiești while still a junior player.

He gradually imposed himself as a regular first-team member, which caught the eye of Rapid București, Politehnica Timișoara and FC Brașov. In 2009, following the transfer of Laurențiu Marinescu to Unirea Urziceni, Budescu took over his number 10 jersey.

Astra Giurgiu

In the summer of 2011, Budescu signed a contract with cross-town rivals Astra Ploiești, later relocated and renamed Astra Giurgiu. On 21 July 2013, he scored his first hat-trick in the Liga I, in a 4–0 away win against Viitorul Constanța.[2] Four days later, during their first ever appearance in the UEFA Europa League, he netted twice in a 2–1 success at Omonia as his team played 30 minutes with one player less and qualified to the third round;[3] due to his exploits, he was dubbed the "Hero of Nicosia".[4]

On 21 August 2014, Budescu converted a penalty against French side Lyon in the first leg of the Europa League play-off (2–1 away win, qualification on the away goals rule).[5] On 6 August of the following year, in the same competition but in the third qualifying round, his second leg brace helped defeat West Ham United 2–1 at home[6] and 4–3 on aggregate.

Dalian Yifang

In January 2016, Astra rejected an offer from FC Steaua București for Budescu.[7] The following month, he signed a three-year contract with China League One club Dalian Yifang for an undisclosed fee, with a salary worth €3 million plus €500,000 upon signature.[8]

Return to Astra Giurgiu

Budescu was loaned to his previous club Astra Giurgiu in August 2016,[9] before being released by the Asians the following January.[10] On the 26th that month, he chose to stay once again with Astra, joining on a one-and-a-half-year contract.[11][12] On 16 February, Budescu netted a goal against Genk in a 2–2 Europa League round of 32 home draw.[13]

FCSB

On 10 June 2017, FCSB activated Budescu's €750,000 release clause.[14][15] He subsequently signed a four-year deal with the club, being assigned the number 11 shirt.[16] Budescu scored on his debut on 16 July, in a 2–1 home victory against Voluntari.[17] He again found the net nine days later, converting a free kick in 2–2 home draw with Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League third qualifying round.[18]

On 20 December, Budescu was announced by the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper as the winner of the 2017 Romanian Footballer of the Year award.[19] On 15 February 2018, he provided an assist as Harlem Gnohéré scored the only goal of a Europa League round of 32 first leg match with Lazio.[20]

Al-Shabab

On 28 June 2018, Budescu agreed to a three-year deal with Saudi Professional League team Al-Shabab for a reported transfer fee of €2.5 million,[21][22] rejoining his former Astra Giurgiu head coach Marius Șumudică.

Late career
Budescu on his Liga I debut for Petrolul Ploiești, in October 2022.

On 19 August 2019, Astra Giurgiu owner Ioan Niculae confirmed that Budescu returned for a fourth stint at the club after agreeing to a two-year contract. On 8 February 2021, he signed for Saudi Professional League team Damac.[23]

After only twelve games during the remainder of the 2020–21 season, Budescu returned to Romania with FCSB.[24] He left them on 4 January 2022 on a mutual agreement,[25] after only scoring once and being criticised by owner Gigi Becali for his performances.[26] Fifteen days later, he put pen to paper on a contract with Voluntari.[27]

On 2 August 2022, Budescu returned to his boyhood club Petrolul Ploiești, which had recently promoted back to the Liga I. He signed a two-year deal[28] and was given the number 10 shirt. After recovering from a long-term injury, Budescu registered his first appearance and goal in the top flight for Petrolul on 24 October, converting a penalty in a 2–0 home win over Argeș Pitești.[29] On 2 August 2023, he left the team on a mutual agreement, two days after publicly stating that he is not content with his playing time.[30]

On 4 August 2023, Budescu agreed to a deal with defending champions Farul Constanța.[31] Six days later, he scored and provided an assist in a 3–0 home victory against Estonian side Flora in the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.[32]

International career

Budescu played an unofficial match for Romania B in a 1–4 friendly defeat against Poland, in February 2013. His debut for the full side was made two years later, as he came on as a 78th-minute substitute in a 0–0 away draw against Hungary for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers.[33][34]

On 11 October 2015, Budescu scored a brace against the Faroe Islands, helping the country achieve qualification by finishing second in the group one point behind Northern Ireland.[35][36]

Style of play

Budescu is regarded as a skilful player who can create chances and goalscoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates. Hence, he has been deployed in a wide number of positions, such as an attacking midfielder, a winger, a supporting striker or even a main striker.[37]

Budescu's shot accuracy allows him to be an exceptional free kick and penalty kick taker,[38] and he is known to sometimes put opposing goalkeepers to test from long range or even from corner kicks.[39] In spite of his undoubtable talent, he has often been criticised for his lack of work rate,[40] himself stating that he "only got serious [...] after turning 30 years old".[41]

Personal life

In October 2014, Budescu married his partner Mădălina in the city of Ploiești, with then Astra Giurgiu teammate Daniel Coman acting as best man.[42] He is nicknamed Sărmăluță (Romanian for "little Sarma"), due to his weakness for traditional food and body weight issues.[43]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 26 October 2023[44]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Petrolul Ploiești
2005–06 Divizia B 13410———144
2006–07 Liga II 327————327
2007–08 Liga II 3410————3410
2008–09 Liga II 27431———305
2009–10 Liga II 3114————3114
2010–11 Liga II 12722———149
Total 1494663———15549
Astra Giurgiu
2010–11 Liga I 60————60
2011–12 Liga I 9000———90
2012–13 Liga I 261253———3115
2013–14 Liga I 281364—7[lower-alpha 1]3—4120
2014–15 Liga I 2810003210[lower-alpha 1]11[lower-alpha 2]04213
2015–16 Liga I 18821106[lower-alpha 1]3—2712
Total 11543138422371015660
Dalian Yifang
2016 China League One 40————40
Astra Giurgiu (loan)
2016–17 Liga I 15410116[lower-alpha 1]1—236
Astra Giurgiu
2016–17 Liga I 12244—2[lower-alpha 1]1—187
FCSB
2017–18 Liga I 271010—9[lower-alpha 3]4—3714
Al-Shabab
2018–19 Saudi Pro League 22721———248
Astra Giurgiu
2019–20 Liga I 196100000—206
2020–21 Liga I 188000000—188
Total 3714100000—3814
Damac
2020–21 Saudi Pro League 12000———120
FCSB
2021–22 Liga I 10110———111
Voluntari
2021–22 Liga I 11200———112
Petrolul Ploiești
2022–23 Liga I 17330———203
2023–24 Liga I 30————30
Total 203300000—233
Farul Constanța
2023–24 Liga I 9200—42—134
Career total 443134321653441510525168
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearance in Supercupa României
  3. Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League

International
As of match played 6 June 2021[45]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania 201542
201600
201742
201841
201900
202000
202120
Total145
Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Budescu goal.[45]
List of international goals scored by Constantin Budescu
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 October 2015Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands Faroe Islands1–03–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
2 2–0
3 5 October 2017Ilie Oană, Ploiești, Romania Kazakhstan1–03–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 2–0
5 31 May 2018Sportzentrum Graz-Weinzödl, Graz, Austria Chile3–23–2Friendly

Honours

Astra Giurgiu[44]

Voluntari[44]

Individual

References
  1. "Budescu, golgheterul crescut cu mici şi sarmale" [Budescu, the goalscorer raised with mici and sarmale] (in Romanian). Click. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  2. "Viitorul Constanța-Astra Giurgiu live text" (in Romanian). ProSport. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  3. "Omonia 1–2 Astra". UEFA.com. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  4. "VIDEO Budescu Show! Atacantul Astrei a eliminat-o pe Omonia cu o dublă de senzaţie, 2–1" [VIDEO Budescu Show! Astra's attacking midfielder eliminated Omonia with double exciter, 2–1]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 27 July 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  5. "Lyon 1–2 Astra". UEFA.com. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  6. "Astra Giurgiu 2–1 West Ham". BBC Sport. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  7. "Oficial! Budescu e "chinez", cu acte-n regulă! Prima reactie" [Official! Budescu is "Chinese", black in white! First reactions] (in Romanian). Fanatik. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  8. "Budescu a semnat cu Dalian Yifang, în prezenţa miliardarului Wang Jianlin. Detaliile" [Budescu signed with Dalian Yifang, in the presence billionaire Wang Jianlin. Details] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  9. "E gata! Budescu este, până în iarnă, jucătorul Astrei" [Done deal! Budescu is Astra's player until winter] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  10. "Budescu și-a reziliat contractul cu chinezii. Becali îl așteaptă la Steaua, Șumi trage să rămână. Astra vrea doi atacanți" [Budescu terminated his contract with the Chinese. Becali expects him at Steaua, Șumi wants him to stay. Astra is looking for two forwards]. Libertatea (in Romanian). 11 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  11. "Budescu rămâne astrist!" [Budescu stays an astrist]. FC Astra Giurgiu. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  12. "Budescu a semnat cu Astra. Detaliile contractului" [Budescu signed with Astra. Details of the contract]. Digi Sport. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  13. "Capodoperă a Astrei cu Genk! Budescu a marcat un supergol, servit perfect de Teixeira" [Masterpiece for Astra against Genk! Budescu scored a wonder goal, after a perfect assist from Teixeira]. Gazeta Sporturilor. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  14. "Budescu a semnat pe 4 ani cu FCSB" [Budescu signed a four-year contract with FCSB] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  15. "Budescu a semnat pe 4 ani cu Steaua: "De doi ani ma tot suna domnul Becali, am cedat!" Prima declaratie dupa ce a semnat" [Budescu signed a four-year deal with Steaua: "Mr. Becali has been calling me for two years, I gave up!" His first words after signing] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  16. "Bine ai venit, Constantin Budescu!" [Welcome, Constantin Budescu!] (in Romanian). Steaua București. 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  17. "Debut perfect al lui Budescu! A marcat la primul meci oficial pentru FCSB și a fost aproape de un gol direct din corner" [Perfect debut for Budescu! He scored on his first official match for FCSB and was close to hitting the target directly from a corner kick] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  18. "FCSB 2–2 Plzeň". UEFA.com. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  19. "SUPERLATIVELE GSP 2017 » INTERVIU EXCLUSIV. Constantin Budescu, fotbalistul anului în România: "Daum nu m-a selecţionat fiindcă avea alte criterii, nu doar fotbalistice"" [GSP SUPERLATIVES 2017 » EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. Constantin Budescu, footballer of the year in Romania: "Daum didn't pick me up because of other reasons than those related to football"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 20 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  20. "FCSB 1–0 Lazio". UEFA.com. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  21. "Al Shabab has officially signed a professional contract with the Romanian national team player Constantin #Budescu for three years". Al Shabab Saudi FC on Twitter. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  22. "OFICIAL Transfer BOMBĂ joi seară! Budescu pleacă de la FCSB » Gigi Becali a confirmat și a dezvăluit suma transferului" [OFFICIAL AMAZING transfer on Thursday evening! Budescu leaves FCSB » Gigi Becali confirmed and revealed the transfer fee]. Gazeta Sporturilor. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  23. Barbu, Sorin (8 February 2021). "Astra Giurgiu confirmă plecarea lui Constantin Budescu în Arabia Saudită. "A semnat deja"" [Astra Giurgiu confirms Constantin Budescu's departure to Saudi Arabia. "He already signed"] (in Romanian). ProSport. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  24. "Bine ai revenit, Constantin Budescu!" (in Romanian). FCSB. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  25. "Mulțumim, Constantin Budescu!" (in Romanian). FCSB. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  26. "Criticat de Becali, Budescu nu pleacă de la FCSB: "Vorbește pe la TV, dar n-avem ce face!"". 22 November 2021.
  27. "Constantin Budescu, prezentat la FC Voluntari: "Vreau să ajut echipa cât pot de bine" » Motivul pentru care a ales să semneze cu ilfovenii".
  28. "Oficial: Constantin Budescu s-a întors la FC Petrolul!" [Official: Constantin Budescu has returned to FC Petrolul!] (in Romanian). FC Petrolul Ploiești. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  29. "Budescu a jucat primul meci în Liga 1 după mai bine de 6 luni » A avut nevoie de 7 minute pentru a marca" [Budescu played his first Liga 1 match in more than 6 months » He needed 7 minutes to score]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 24 October 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  30. "OFICIAL Budescu s-a despărțit de Petrolul: anunțul clubului ploieștean" [OFFICIAL Budescu parted ways with Petrolul: the announcement of the Ploiești-based club]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  31. "Bine ai venit, Constantin Budescu !" [Welcome, Constantin Budescu !] (in Romanian). FCV Farul Constanța. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  32. "Farul Constanța 3–0 Flora Tallinn". UEFA.com. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  33. "Hungary and Romania draw a blank in Budapest". UEFA. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  34. "Budescu a debutat oficial la națională și a avut un șut periculos. 'Sunt bucuros!'" [Budescu made his official national team debut and had a dangerous shot. "I'm happy!"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  35. "Romania beat Faroe Islands to reach finals". UEFA. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  36. "Budescu, omul meciului, cu o dublă: "Nu eu am calificat echipa!"" [Budescu, man of the match, with a brace: "It was not me who qualified the team!"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  37. "FCSB-JUVENTUS. VIDEO "Pufos", cu kg în plus, dar "dacă-l vedeți la antrenamente, vă cruciți!" » Două mărturii incredibile despre Budescu, după golul genial cu Juventus" [FCSB–JUVENTUS. VIDEO "Fluffy", overweight, but "if you see him during training sessions, you won't believe it!" » Two incredible testimonies about Budescu, after the brilliant goal against Juventus]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 5 December 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2021. He makes the difference in the last 20 meters, he is a player who is always looking for spectacular shots. ... The team must assume that it plays in 10 men, not 11, because of the freedom granted to Budescu, but there is also the advantage that he is able to invent something at any moment.
  38. "Iuliu Mureșan confirmă interesul CFR-ului pentru Budescu. "Are o calitate excepțională"" [Iuliu Mureșan confirms CFR's interest in Budescu. "He has an exceptional quality"] (in Romanian). Realitatea Sportivă. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2021. Budescu is deadly at free kicks, he is a very good player, he has an exceptional quality.
  39. "Constantin Budescu tocmai a marcat golul sezonului, din corner! Dublă de pus în ramă" [Constantin Budescu just scored the goal of the season from a corner! A double to remember forever] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  40. ""Nu e suficient sa bati doar loviturile libere!" Ce trebuie sa mai faca Budescu daca vrea sa fie chemat in final la nationala" ["It's not enough to take free kicks!" What Budescu needs to do to get to the national team] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  41. "Budescu, spovedanie din Arabia Saudită: "M-am apucat serios de fotbal după 30 de ani" + "Am discutat să merg la FCSB"" [Budescu, a confession from Saudi Arabia: "I got serious about football after turning 30 years old" + "I talked about joining FCSB"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 3 March 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  42. "Budescu a semnat contractul vieții! Atacantul Astrei s-a căsătorit la Ploiești" [Budescu signed the contract of his life! The Astra attacker married in Ploiești] (in Romanian). Look TV. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  43. ""Sărmăluță" Budescu, spaima cântarului" ["Sărmăluță" Budescu, the dread of the weighing] (in Romanian). Ziare. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  44. Constantin Budescu at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  45. "Constantin Budescu". European Football. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  46. "Fotbalistul lunii – Iulie 2015" [Player of the Month – July 2015] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. July 2015. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  47. "Fotbalistul lunii – August 2015" [Player of the Month – August 2015] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. August 2015. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  48. "Fotbalistul lunii – Decembrie 2016" [Player of the Month – December 2016] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
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