Agent reckons Arsenal player has made bad transfer decision

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Arsenal talent Catalin Cirjan is currently away from the Emirates Stadium on loan and plying his trade for Romania’s FC Rapid.

The 21-year-old midfielder joined the Gunners academy from Romanian side Viitorul Domnesti back in July 2019, and quickly made a name for himself at Hale End.

Back in 2022, Cirjan earned himself a new contract at Arsenal and was a regular for the Under-21s. He made 19 Premier League 2 appearances and three in the EFL Trophy.

This season, the Gunners youngster opted to make a temporary return to his homeland and link up with Bucharest’s FC Rapid for the entirety of the 2023/24 season.

However, things haven’t quite gone to plan for Cirjan. After initially featuring regularly, he then dropped to the bench a few times, but now, he hasn’t featured since 19 January.

The Arsenal talent has been an unused substitute in his last nine Romanian Superliga matches.

What has Florin Manea said about Arsenal talent Catalin Cirjan?

Now, Cirjan’s own agent has admitted that the Gunners youngster may have made a mistake in choosing a loan in Romania.

Florin Manea, speaking to Romanian outlet Sport, believes the drop-off in quality and intensity between the Premier League and other leagues.

Indeed, Manea said he told Tottenham Hotspur newcomer Radu Dragusin that the difference in intensity between the Premier League and Italy’s Serie A is huge, never mind between the Premier League and Romania’s top flight.

“Cirjan is back (in Romania),” said Manea 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.

“That’s what I was talking to Radu Dragusin 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.”

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Manea is absolutely spot on. the Premier League is now one of the most intense football championships in the world, and as such, training has to prepare players for such games.

Admittedly, Cirjan hails from Romania, so maybe he wanted to return to his home country to be closer to his family and friends. You have to take the personal reasons into account.

However, from a footballing perspective, the Arsenal man is now plying his trade in a much weaker league than the English top flight. And worse still, he’s not even playing.

Cirjan’s Gunners contract runs until the summer of 2025. It remains to be seen what his future holds for him at the Emirates Stadium.