Championship hopefuls Nottingham Forest and League One challengers Sunderland both reportedly wanted to sign Romanian midfielder Popescu.
Both Sunderland and Nottingham Forest have been left disappointed in their pursuit of one of Romania’s biggest talents.
According to Fanatik, Calin Popescu has undergone trials at Sunderland and Forest, both of whom were keen to sign the teenage midfielder after impressing coaches at the City Ground and the Stadium of Light.
But the report adds that Popescu has now turned down the chance to continue his career in England because he was worried about a potential lack of first-team opportunities.
Instead, Popescu has signed for Sepsi OSK, the side who are currently fourth in the Romanian top flight. The defensive midfielder, who made his first-team debut at the age of 15 for FC Brasov, obviously believes that staying in his homeland would be more beneficial as he aims to hone his considerable talents.
Whether he has made the right decision remains to be seen.
Sunderland manager Jack Ross would surely have given Popescu a chance if he thought he was ready, given that the former St Mirren boss has played the likes of Josh Maja, Benjamin Kimpioka and Denver Hume regularly this season.
Forest, however, would probably have seen Popescu as a youth-team player for the time being given the number of experienced midfield options at the City Ground.
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