Quick Facts
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Constantin Valentin Budescu ([konstanˈtin valenˈtin buˈdesku]; born 19 February 1989) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays mainly as an attacking midfielder for Astra Giurgiu.
He began his senior career at Petrolul Ploiești, amassing over 150 appearances throughout the course of six seasons before transferring to Astra Ploiești in 2011. With the latter club, which relocated to Giurgiu, he won one Cupa României and one Supercupa României, both in 2014. He had a brief spell with Chinese team Dalian Yifang in early 2016, returned to Astra and then signed for FCSB in June 2017.
Club career
Early years / Petrolul Ploiești
Budescu was born in Manasia, a commune near Urziceni in Ialomița County. At the age of 12, with his first team Rapid Sălciile, he once scored "13 goals in one match".
In 2007, Budescu made his debut in Liga II for Petrolul Ploiești whilst still a junior player. Gradually, he imposed himself as a regular first-team member, eventually catching the eye of Rapid București, Politehnica Timișoara and FC Brașov.
In 2009, following the transfer of Laurențiu Marinescu to Unirea Urziceni, Budescu took over the number 10 jersey.
Astra Giurgiu
In the 2011 summer, Budescu signed a contract with cross-town rivals Astra Ploiești, later relocated and renamed Astra Giurgiu. On 21 July 2013, he scored his first hat-trick in Liga I, in the 4–0 away win against Viitorul Constanța. Four days later, during their first ever appearance in the UEFA Europa League, he netted twice in a 2–1 success at Omonia as his team played 30 minutes with one player less and qualified to the third round; due to his exploits, he was dubbed the "Hero of Nicosia".
On 21 August 2014, Budescu scored a penalty against French side Lyon in the first leg of the Europa League play-off (2–1 away win, qualification on the away goals rule). On 6 August of the following year, in the same competition but in the third qualifying round, his second leg brace helped defeat West Ham United 2–1 at home and 4–3 on aggregate.
Dalian Yifang
In January 2016, Astra rejected an offer from Steaua București for Budescu. The following month he signed a three-year contract with China League One club Dalian Yifang for an undisclosed fee, with a salary worth €3 million plus €500,000 upon signature.
Budescu was loaned to his previous club in August 2016, being released by the Asians the following January.
Return to Astra
On 26 January 2017, Budescu chose to stay once again with Astra Giurgiu, joining on a one-and-a-half-year contract. On 16 February, he netted a goal against Genk in a 2–2 Europa League round of 32 home draw.
FCSB
On 10 June 2017, FCSB activated Budescu's release clause. He subsequently signed a four-year deal with the club, being assigned the number 11 shirt.
Budescu scored on his debut on 16 July 2017, in a 2–1 home victory against FC Voluntari. He again found the net nine days later, converting a free kick in a Champions League third qualifying round home draw to Viktoria Plzeň; on 20 December, he was announced by the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper as the winner of the 2017 Romanian Footballer of the Year award.
On 15 February 2018, Budescu offered an assist as Harlem Gnohéré scored the only goal of a Europa League round of 32 first leg match with Lazio.
Al-Shabab
On 28 June 2018, Budescu penned a three-year deal with Saudi Professional League team Al-Shabab for a reported transfer fee of €2.5 million, rejoining his former Astra coach Marius Șumudică.
Third return to Astra
On 19th of August 2019, Astra owner Ioan Niculae confirmed the return of the 30 year old player, signing a contract on two years.
International career
Budescu played an unofficial match for Romania B in a 1–4 friendly defeat against Poland, in February 2013. His debut for the full side was made two years later, as he came on as a 78th-minute substitute in a 0–0 away draw against Hungary for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers.
On 11 October 2015, Budescu scored a brace against Faroe Islands, helping the country achieve qualification by finishing second in the group one point behind Northern Ireland.
Style of play
Budescu is regarded as a creative player, with exceptional free kick skills as well as accurate long shots. However, he has also been criticized for his lack of work rate.
Personal life
Budescu is nicknamed "Sărmăluță", due to his weakness for traditional food. In October 2014, he married Mădălina in Ploiești, with former footballer Dănuț Coman acting as best man.
Career statistics
Club
- As of 16 November 2019
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Petrolul Ploiești | |||||||||||||
| 2005–06 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 15 | 4 | ||||
| 2006–07 | 32 | 7 | – | – | – | – | 32 | 7 | |||||
| 2007–08 | 34 | 10 | – | – | – | – | 34 | 10 | |||||
| 2008–09 | 27 | 6 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | 30 | 7 | ||||
| 2009–10 | 32 | 7 | – | – | – | – | 32 | 7 | |||||
| 2010–11 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | 14 | 9 | ||||
| Total | 151 | 41 | 6 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 157 | 44 | |
| Astra Giurgiu | |||||||||||||
| 2010–11 | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 6 | 0 | |||||
| 2011–12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 2012–13 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 3 | – | – | – | 31 | 15 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 28 | 13 | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 41 | 21 | |||
| 2014–15 | 28 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 12 | |
| 2015–16 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | – | 27 | 12 | ||
| 2016–17 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | – | 41 | 13 | ||
| 2019–20 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 | 6 | ||
| Total | 151 | 55 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 31 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 207 | 79 | |
| Dalian Yifang | |||||||||||||
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 4 | 0 | |||||
| FCSB | |||||||||||||
| 2017–18 | 27 | 9 | 1 | 0 | – | 9 | 4 | – | 37 | 13 | |||
| Al-Shabab | |||||||||||||
| 2018–19 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | 24 | 8 | ||||
| Career Total | 355 | 112 | 28 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 40 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 429 | 144 | |
International
- As of 7 September 2018
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 2015 | 5 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 13 | 5 | |
International goals
- As of 31 May 2018 (Romania score listed first, score column indicates score after each Budescu goal)
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 11 October 2015 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands |  Faroe Islands | 1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying |
| 2. | 2–0 | |||||
| 3. | 5 October 2017 | Ilie Oană, Ploiești, Romania |  Kazakhstan | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4. | 2–0 | |||||
| 5. | 31 May 2018 | Sportzentrum Graz-Weinzödl, Graz, Austria |  Chile | 3–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
Honours
Club
Astra Giurgiu
- Cupa României: 2013–14; Runner-up 2016–17
- Supercupa României: 2014
Individual
- Gazeta Sporturilor Romanian Footballer of the Year: 2017; Runner-up 2015
- Gala Fotbalului Românesc Romanian Footballer of the Year: 2015, 2017
- DigiSport Liga I Player of the Month: July 2015, August 2015, December 2016
- Liga I Team of the Season: 2016–17, 2017–18
