Adrian Ropotan reveals he rejected three offers from Gică Hagi's Viitorul

Adrian Ropotan has revealed that he refused three distinct offers to join Viitorul Constanța, despite the persistent interest of club owner Gică Hagi. The former Dinamo București midfielder stated that he never accepted the opportunity to play for the team based on the Black Sea coast, citing personal integrity and prior agreements with other clubs as the primary reasons for his rejections.

The first refusal occurred in 2015, shortly before Ropotan signed with Petrolul Ploiești. Ropotan explained that representatives from Viitorul, then known as Farul in some contexts or associated with the same ownership structure, contacted him while he was already committed to Petrolul. He stated that he could not accept the move because he had already given his word to the other club, emphasizing that breaking such a promise was not in his character.

A second approach from Viitorul came after Ropotan’s stint at Petrolul ended. During this period, he was contacted by Săpunaru regarding a move to Pandurii Târgu Jiu. After speaking with Pandurii coach Edi Iordănescu and reaching an agreement, Ropotan was once again approached by Viitorul. He declined the offer, feeling embarrassed by the repeated situation, and ultimately signed with Pandurii instead.

The third and final attempt by Viitorul to secure Ropotan’s services took place after his time at Pandurii and subsequent spells at Hatta and Chiajna. By this stage, Ropotan held offers from clubs in Japan and Cyprus. However, he chose to reject these international opportunities as well as the offer from Viitorul. The decision was driven by the recent birth of his child, with Ropotan stating that he prioritized being present for his family over financial gain or professional advancement.

This final rejection coincided with Ropotan’s decision to retire from professional football in 2019. He expressed regret over the manner in which the situation unfolded, noting that he felt too ashamed to contact Viitorul officials after repeatedly turning them down. Ropotan acknowledged that the club likely had plans in place for his arrival, but he felt it was incorrect to lead them on after having already made other arrangements or decided to end his career.