From our football correspondent
Crisis
Match13 Nov 2027
1-2 to Dinamo Bucharest, and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.
Squad15 Nov 2027
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Bogdan Vătăjelu will call it something else in private.
Squad15 Nov 2027
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad15 Nov 2027
A season average of 7.21 with 8 goals behind it. Opponents have started planning around him, which is the sincerest compliment football pays.
Loan watch15 Nov 2027
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Petrolul, and 0 appearances in 21 say he has earned the hearing.
Loan watch15 Nov 2027
17 appearances at Aalborg and the goals keep coming. Petrolul are watching this more closely than the borrowing club would like.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad1 Nov 2027
35 days, the medical staff say, and medical staff are optimists by profession. The team sheet will look wrong without him.
Match30 Oct 2027
A 1-0 win over Viitorul, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Squad1 Nov 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad1 Nov 2027
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Valentin Creţu will call it something else in private.
Market1 Nov 2027
Isak Bae Eikeland is 20, and Petrolul have signed him for the player he will be rather than the one he is. The first team can wait; the point of a deal like this is the years it buys.
Loan watch1 Nov 2027
15 appearances away from home and 9 goals to show for them. Every one of them makes next summer's conversation a little more expensive.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market13 Sep 2027
The interest is real enough to have reached print. Petrolul have said nothing, which in a transfer window is its own kind of answer.
Market13 Sep 2027
Daniel Marin wants to know where this is going
“I want to win things, and I would like to do it here.” Nothing has been demanded and nothing has been threatened — but a boardroom at Petrolul hears a sentence like that exactly as it was built.
Squad13 Sep 2027
A season average of 7.00 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. Petrolul know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
Squad13 Sep 2027
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Ovidiu Chiriches commits to Petrolul for another 2 years.
Match11 Sep 2027
A 1-1 draw with Dinamo Bucharest leaves the dressing room somewhere between relief and regret.
Squad13 Sep 2027
The manager makes an example of Franco Martínez
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market30 Aug 2027
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Squad30 Aug 2027
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Cosmin Ratiu commits to Petrolul for another 4 years.
Match28 Aug 2027
Three points for Petrolul, 2-1 the final word against Viitorul in a contest settled by the finer margins.
Squad30 Aug 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Market30 Aug 2027
The name of Bogdan Iancu keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Petrolul say nothing, which says plenty.
Squad30 Aug 2027
Somebody is after Bogdan Iancu’s shirt
A new face in his position, and Bogdan Iancu suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Petrolul have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
Squad30 Aug 2027
Adrian Hagi unhappy with how he is being used
Asked to play a role that is not his, or taken off before the hour once too often — Adrian Hagi has let it be known that he does not like the way Petrolul are using him. Managers hear this long before the press does.
Market30 Aug 2027
A season-long audition: Dinamo Bucharest still own him, but the shirt and the minutes are Petrolul's to give. A loan is a bet both clubs believe they are winning.
Market30 Aug 2027
Petrolul have made Ismael Torres available for transfer. A career at this club is over in all but paperwork.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad2 Aug 2027
“The easiest signature of my career.” Valentin Creţu and Petrolul agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Market2 Aug 2027
The paperwork is done: Sergiu Balasa joins from Astra in a deal worth $91.0K. Now comes the harder part.
Squad2 Aug 2027
The award is a small thing with a heavy meaning: for four weeks nobody in this division did his job better. Petrolul have the trophy on a shelf and the player in the side.
Match31 Jul 2027
1-1, and both dressing rooms will call it two points lost. A draw that asked plenty of questions and answered none of them.
Squad2 Aug 2027
Daniel Marin finally opens his account
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Petrolul have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
Market2 Aug 2027
The name of Bogdan Iancu keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Petrolul say nothing, which says plenty.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match14 Jun 2027
Petrolul are in among the leaders
Position 3 and 27 points on the board. Nobody at the ground will say the word out loud yet, and everybody at the ground is thinking it.
Market14 Jun 2027
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Market14 Jun 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Market14 Jun 2027
“I have ambitions, and I would like the club to share them.” Nobody has asked to leave and nobody has been shown the door — but a player chooses that sentence carefully, and a boardroom hears it exactly as it was meant.
Market14 Jun 2027
Stefan Chiriches has left for Pandurii in a $200.0K deal. The accountants are pleased; the supporters are less certain.
Squad14 Jun 2027
“The easiest signature of my career.” Guilherme Silva and Petrolul agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad24 May 2027
Javier Calle: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Petrolul have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Squad24 May 2027
At 21, Cosmin Ratiu is already the best thing here
An average of 7.00 in a first team he is several years too young for. Petrolul have something, and by now the whole division has noticed.
Squad24 May 2027
The medical room confirms 134 days on the sidelines for Ismael Torres, and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad8 Feb 2027
At 21, Claudio Silvestri is already the best thing here
An average of 7.19 in a first team he is several years too young for. Petrolul have something, and by now the whole division has noticed.
Market8 Feb 2027
Daniel Marin wants to know where this is going
“I want to win things, and I would like to do it here.” Nothing has been demanded and nothing has been threatened — but a boardroom at Petrolul hears a sentence like that exactly as it was built.
Squad8 Feb 2027
“The easiest signature of my career.” Adrian Hagi and Petrolul agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad8 Feb 2027
37 days, the medical staff say, and medical staff are optimists by profession. The team sheet will look wrong without him.
Loan watch8 Feb 2027
21 appearances away from home and 11 goals to show for them. Every one of them makes next summer's conversation a little more expensive.
Squad8 Feb 2027
Javier Calle knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Petrolul, and both men came out saying it was fine.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Squad9 Nov 2026
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Market9 Nov 2026
“I have ambitions, and I would like the club to share them.” Nobody has asked to leave and nobody has been shown the door — but a player chooses that sentence carefully, and a boardroom hears it exactly as it was meant.
Match7 Nov 2026
A 4-3 win over Dinamo Bucharest, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Squad9 Nov 2026
A season average of 7.00 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. Petrolul know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
Squad9 Nov 2026
The manager makes an example of David Rodríguez
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad9 Nov 2026
The medical room confirms 23 days on the sidelines for Adrian Maxim, and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.
Loan watch9 Nov 2026
“I did not go to Viitorul to sit and watch. I want to come back to Petrolul and fight for my place.” 1 appearances in 9 matches say the rest.
Market9 Nov 2026
The Bogdan Iancu talk will not go away
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Petrolul know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Loan watch9 Nov 2026
9 appearances away from home and 4 goals to show for them. Every one of them makes next summer's conversation a little more expensive.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Squad26 Oct 2026
There were 15 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Market26 Oct 2026
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Match24 Oct 2026
Viitorul made Petrolul work for it, but the scoreboard read 2-1 at the end and the table does not ask how.
Squad26 Oct 2026
Daniel Marin gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Loan watch26 Oct 2026
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Petrolul, and 0 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
Squad26 Oct 2026
Mihai Balasa wants a proper job in this side
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — Mihai Balasa has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Petrolul know, and have known for weeks.
From our football correspondent
Steady
The terraces12 Oct 2026
The ground has had enough
“We travel everywhere and we get this.” 5 of the 24 senior players heard it walking off, and the ones who did not hear it were not playing.
Squad12 Oct 2026
“The easiest signature of my career.” Claudio Silvestri and Petrolul agree another 5 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Match10 Oct 2026
Beaten 0-1, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
Squad12 Oct 2026
Javier Calle gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Loan watch12 Oct 2026
“I did not go to Viitorul to sit and watch. I want to come back to Petrolul and fight for my place.” 1 appearances in 5 matches say the rest.
Market12 Oct 2026
The Bogdan Iancu talk will not go away
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Petrolul know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Match5 Oct 2026
Petrolul up to position 1
19 points on the board and a place in the leading group. Nobody at the ground is saying the word out loud yet.
Match3 Oct 2026
Still nobody has beaten Petrolul
The unbeaten run reaches 9. Some of them were wins and some were escapes, but a side that refuses to lose is a side other dressing rooms talk about.
Squad5 Oct 2026
“The easiest signature of my career.” Dragos Marin and Petrolul agree another 1 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Match3 Oct 2026
Three points for Petrolul, 2-1 the final word against Pandurii in a contest settled by the finer margins.
Boardroom5 Oct 2026
117% of the income goes out in wages at Petrolul
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
Squad5 Oct 2026
The manager makes an example of Alexandru Iancu
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market31 Aug 2026
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Market31 Aug 2026
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Market31 Aug 2026
The paperwork is done: Ovidiu Chiriches joins from Viitorul in a deal worth $200.0K. Now comes the harder part.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Javier Calle gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Market31 Aug 2026
Pandurii are about to pick up the phone
A conversation is coming this week. Petrolul will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.
Match29 Aug 2026
Ninety minutes, two goalkeepers with clean gloves, and not one finish worth keeping. CFR Cluj will be the happier side with the point.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Squad17 Aug 2026
There were 8 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Match15 Aug 2026
A 1-0 win over Astra, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Squad17 Aug 2026
The manager makes an example of Guilherme Silva
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad17 Aug 2026
The first one is the one every signing is asked about until it arrives. It has arrived, and he can stop being asked.
Market17 Aug 2026
“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Samuel Carvalho has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at Petrolul.
Market17 Aug 2026
Petrolul bring in an old head
Javier Calle is 35 and has run out of things to prove. What he has left is where to stand, when to slow it down and what to say at half-time, and none of that is on a fitness chart.
Squad17 Aug 2026
At 20 years old, Nicusor Mitrita became the latest name off the academy production line to be handed a senior shirt.
Market17 Aug 2026
The Bogdan Iancu talk will not go away
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Petrolul know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Market17 Aug 2026
The list is a quiet document with a loud meaning. Alexandru Ratiu may talk to anybody who asks, and everybody at the club understands what that means.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Market10 Aug 2026
Astra come back empty-handed
The bid was some way short and Petrolul did not need long over it. Nobody in the game reads a first refusal as the end of anything.
Market10 Aug 2026
Mihai Puscas has left for IFK Goteborg in a $1.2M deal. The accountants are pleased; the supporters are less certain.
Market10 Aug 2026
“I have ambitions, and I would like the club to share them.” Nobody has asked to leave and nobody has been shown the door — but a player chooses that sentence carefully, and a boardroom hears it exactly as it was meant.
Squad10 Aug 2026
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Bogdan Iancu commits to Petrolul for another 3 years.
Match8 Aug 2026
Petrolul get the job done against FCSB
A 2-1 win over FCSB, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Squad10 Aug 2026
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Market10 Aug 2026
“There is a gap, and pretending there is not helps nobody.” Neither side has moved, and the calendar is working for exactly one of them.
Squad10 Aug 2026
Bogdan Iancu knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Petrolul, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Squad10 Aug 2026
The first one is the one every signing is asked about until it arrives. It has arrived, and he can stop being asked.