Cristian Daminuță, once a highly promising Romanian footballer who played for Inter Milan and AC Milan, publicly criticized former agent Giovanni Becali amid recent disputes involving Becali and Romario Benzar, another Romanian player whom Becali had transferred to Lecce in 2019. Benzar was harshly labeled by Becali as a disappointment and “the destruction of Romanian football,” sparking Daminuță’s defense and revealing his own troubled history with the Becali family.
Daminuță recounted his rapid rise, debuting in Romania’s top league at 16 before moving to Inter Milan’s youth ranks in 2008. Despite strong performances alongside future stars, he was transferred to AC Milan for over €1 million—an unexpected move that appeared more a business transaction than a sporting decision. Afterward, rather than advancing, Daminuță was relegated to lower leagues, including Italy’s Serie C with L’Aquila, a city devastated by a major earthquake, while Romanian clubs willing to offer him better terms were ignored.
He condemned the influential football agents, particularly the Becali brothers, for prioritizing personal gain over players’ careers, describing them as “the pus of Romanian football” and warning parents of young players not to be exploited by such figures. Daminuță acknowledged making mistakes himself but emphasized his lack of legal knowledge and the pressures from those controlling his transfers, which ultimately stifled his potential and left him sidelined.
His heartfelt statement called out the corruption and manipulation within Romanian football’s transfer market, highlighting how some agents act as gatekeepers who “sell” players while dressing up their roles as grand businessmen. Despite the setbacks, Daminuță thanked his family for unwavering support and expressed hope that justice would prevail for others in similar situations.
This candid exposé sheds light on the darker side of Romanian football management and raises concerns about the impact of agent interference on player development and career trajectories.