Winter departures rock Dinamo
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Article summary
FC Dinamo 1948 Bucuresti are resigned to losing three top players during the transfer window as they look ahead to playing UEFA Cup football in the new year.
Article body
FC Dinamo 1948 Bucuresti are resigned to losing three top players during the winter as they look ahead to playing UEFA Cup football in the new year.
Treble blow
Still on top of the league in Romania, 13 points clear of second-placed FC Steaua Bucuresti, Mircea Rednic's side have been hit with a treble blow, with striker Ioan Viorel Ganea, Belarussian international goalkeeper Vladimir Gaev and midfielder Catalin Munteanu all deciding to leave the club. Romania's top scorer with 14 goals this season, Ganea has left Dinamo after just six months claiming that he has been poorly treated by some senior members of the club's administration. He is expected to join his old club AFC Rapid Bucuresti, along with Munteanu, while Gaev is also searching for new employers.
Balace arrives
Angolan midfielder Zé Kalanga may also leave the club during the winter as he has been linked with a move to a Turkish club. Dinamo's only signing to date has been left-back Silviu Balace, who was captain of FCU Politehnica Timisoara, although Bosnia-Herzegovnian midfielder Vojislav Vranjković is also expected to join the club from CS Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu.
Winter target
Dinamo will take on SL Benfica in their UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie in the spring. "We are not ready to play in the UEFA Champions League group stage yet," warned Rednic. "More than that, we need many more good players to be competitive in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup."
