The Petrolul Courier
Market31 Aug 2026
Ionut Dragusin hands in a written request
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Petrolul can pretend not to have heard.
The terraces31 Aug 2026
Petrolul sell a favourite for $200.0K
The accountants will call it good business and they will be right, which is not the point anybody outside the boardroom is making. Daniel Marin was one of the reasons people came, and $200.0K does not replace that by itself.
Market31 Aug 2026
Petrolul get their man
The chase for Ştefan Pănoiu ended with $560.0K changing hands and Botosani out of reasons to say no. The supporters will judge the fee the only way that matters: on Saturdays.
Match29 Aug 2026
4 matches without a win for Petrolul
The run now stands at 4, and the questions being asked around Petrolul are no longer polite ones.
The terraces31 Aug 2026
$560.0K for Ştefan Pănoiu, and Petrolul supporters approve
Boards get told what they have done wrong for years and hear nothing on the days they get it right. This is one of those days: Ştefan Pănoiu from Botosani for $560.0K, and a ticket office having a very good morning.
Market31 Aug 2026
Daniel Marin moves on
Voluntari pay $200.0K, and the deal is done. The number reads well on a balance sheet; whether it reads well on the pitch is next season's question.
Match29 Aug 2026
CFR Cluj take the points off Petrolul
Beaten 0‑1, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Ciprian Deac falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Nobody could get near Ianis Marin
Successful dribbles: 16. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
In brief
- Market Petrolul buy the years ahead of Mihai Toma
- Squad Daniel Stanciu dropped after a run of poor form
- Squad The manager makes an example of Patrão