Romanian media headlines on Wednesday were dominated by controversy surrounding Lithuanian international goalkeeper Edvinas Gertmonas after reports emerged accusing Universitatea Craiova of backstage approaches toward the goalkeeper while his club Universitatea Cluj were still fighting for the Romanian league title.
Just four days earlier, the 29-year-old Lithuanian goalkeeper watched from the bench as Universitatea Cluj suffered a crushing 0-5 defeat against direct rivals Universitatea Craiova, a result which ended Cluj’s hopes of winning the first Romanian league title in club history. Craiova meanwhile secured their first-ever Romanian championship thanks to the victory, completing the domestic double after already lifting the Romanian Cup a week earlier.
The decision to bench Gertmonas surprised many observers. Instead, Cluj started Romanian U-21 international goalkeeper Stefan Lefter, who had played only 12 league matches this season while keeping two clean sheets. Gertmonas himself recorded this season 12 clean sheets across 24 league appearances.
The Lithuanian international had also remained on the bench in another crucial league fixture shortly beforehand, although he did start in the Romanian Cup final that took place between those two league meetings between the title rivals. That match finished scoreless after regular and extra time, with Universitatea Cluj eventually losing in a penalty shootout to Universitatea Craiova.
According to Romanian outlet GOLAZO.ro, several days before the Romanian Cup final one of Craiova’s minority shareholders, Cosmin Moldovan, secretly contacted the Lithuanian goalkeeper personally and proposed a summer move to Craiova.
Gertmonas’ contract with Universitatea Cluj expires this summer and he has not yet signed a contract extension, meaning he could become a free agent if no agreement is reached. According to Romanian media, the goalkeeper initially did not inform his club about the contact from their direct rivals, although the information eventually reached the club hierarchy through internal sources.
Universitatea Cluj president Radu-Mihai Constantea later confirmed to Romanian media that he became aware of the situation after the second league meeting between the clubs, where Gertmonas again remained on the bench. Constantea stated that he personally asked the Lithuanian goalkeeper whether the information was true, and Gertmonas confirmed it.
Despite the situation, the club president stressed that he had “absolutely no reason” to suspect the goalkeeper of wrongdoing, calling him “110% professional,” while also criticizing Craiova’s conduct as unfair.
Former Romanian national team goalkeeper Florin Prunea was among those shocked by Gertmonas being left out in such an important title-deciding match.
“Do you know what the biggest mystery of the match was for me? Why didn’t they play Gertmonas? The number one goalkeeper of the championship sat on the bench! Tell me why! In the title decider he sits on the bench.
I went crazy when I saw the lineup. We all voted Gertmonas as the goalkeeper of the season and he sits on the bench in the championship final?”
Universitatea Cluj officials defended the selection decision to the media by stating that Lefter’s inclusion helped satisfy the Romanian league’s mandatory U-21 player rule.
Gertmonas, who has earned 25 caps for the Lithuanian national team, has made 74 appearances for Universitatea Cluj since joining the club in 2024, recording 30 clean sheets.
Interest in the Lithuanian goalkeeper has been growing for more than a year. Following a strong previous season in Romania, local media linked him with several Italian clubs, including SSC Bari. During this winter transfer window, Greek Super League side Panetolikos F.C. reportedly submitted an official offer for the goalkeeper, although a move never materialized.
Now Gertmonas is also being linked with Turkish Süper Lig side Gaziantep FK, where Romanian coach Mirel Rădoi is reportedly interested in bringing the Lithuanian international to the club after Gaziantep finished 12th in Turkey this season.
Source: https://golazo.ro/craiova-jocuri-de-culise-u-cluj-gertmonas-174739
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