Daniel Covaciu denies conflict with Dinamo coach after father's death

Daniel Covaciu has clarified that his departure from the CS Dinamo senior squad in Liga 2 was his own decision, contradicting media reports suggesting he was dismissed. The player moved to the club’s U19 team three months after the death of his father, Constantin Covaciu, who served as a masseur for the organization. Daniel Covaciu explicitly denied having any conflict with head coach Ionuț Chirilă regarding his exit from the second-tier team.

Prior to this clarification, multiple outlets reported that Daniel Covaciu had been dismissed from the Liga 2 squad following a dispute with Chirilă. These reports alleged that the coach ended their collaboration after the player refused to massage a teammate. Fanatik initially published an exclusive report stating the dismissal resulted from a conflict, while other sources repeated claims about the alleged refusal to perform medical duties.

Coach Ionuț Chirilă addressed the situation by stating he has no conflict with anyone at the club. He noted that Daniel Covaciu had stopped attending training sessions before the separation. Chirilă also speculated that the player might have already found another team, though this remains unconfirmed. The coach’s account focuses on attendance rather than interpersonal disputes or refusals to work.

The controversy arises against the backdrop of a tragedy involving the Dinamo organization. Constantin „Gogu” Covaciu died at age 58 in a road accident on July 31, 2026, while traveling to Câmpulung Muscel. He was the sole fatality in a minibus crash that involved 18 people associated with Dinamo’s second team. The driver reportedly suffered a heart attack during the trip, causing the vehicle to hit a tree. Multiple club members were hospitalized following the incident.

Constantin Covaciu had spent over two decades working as a masseur within the Ștefan cel Mare group, serving under various coaches until the arrival of Zeljko Kopic. Before his long tenure on the medical staff, he played football for Sportul Studențesc alongside Marcel Coraș. Colleagues noted he had recently overcome cancer before his death in the transport accident.

Following his father's death, Daniel Covaciu stated that CS Dinamo offered 48,000 lei for funeral expenses but capped funding for the crypt at 2,000 euros. He has declared an intent to take legal action concerning his father’s work-related death and the transport conditions provided by the club. This legal declaration highlights ongoing tensions between the family and the organization separate from the player's sporting status.