Romania international Darius Olaru is brushing off rumours linking him with a potential £7 million move to Scottish Premiership powerhouses Rangers, speaking to DigiSport.
Sir Alex Ferguson famously quipped that trying to do business with Tottenham Hotspur’s oh-so scrupulous chairman Daniel Levy was more painful than his hip replacement (Evening Standard).
Trying to reach an agreement with Becali, then, must feel like tearing out your own teeth with a pair of rusty tweezers.
One of the more, let’s say, outspoken owners in European football, Becali has wasted no time in sending Rangers a warning after the Glasgow giants sent scouts to watch FCSB playmaker Olaru in action (ProSport).
“I asked for eight million,” says the always bullish Becali. “(A club) offered five. And I said that, without seven million, I would not sell him. It remains to be seen (if anyone meets my demands).
“I can’t tell you what club. They came to negotiate. I’m telling you, I asked for 7 to 7.5 million, but it’s not a 7.5 million offer.”
Rangers like Romania star Darius Olaru
Becali, the long-serving lord of the Steaua Bucharest manor, did admit that he hopes to cash on the talented, highly-technical Olaru before the summer is out. What’s more, Rangers do have money to spend following Joe Aribo’s move to Southampton.
And Olaru, who provided six goals and 12 assists last season, could move into pole position as far as Rangers’ transfer plans are concerned. Giovanni van Bronckhorst missed out on Angelo Fulgini to Mainz last week.
But while Olaru is aware of such speculation, he was careful to avoid pouring any fuel on the fire when asked to give his opinion on how things will pan out before September’s deadline.
“I don’t know,” the 24-year-old said. “I saw it in the press. But I only knew that I had a match against Cluj and I wanted to win the match. What will be in the future, I do not know. For now, I’m here in the red-blue colours.
“I’m focused here. I want to raise the level of the game and give everything for the team.”
Olaru, at £7 million, would become Rangers’ most expensive acquisition since Ryan Kent turned his loan deal into a permanent transfer back in 2019.
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