7. Octavian Popescu
Octavian Popescu may be the greatest gamble available in Romanian football.
The FCSB winger was once regarded as one of the country’s outstanding young talents. Benfica were reportedly prepared to pay millions for him while he was still a teenager, but FCSB believed his eventual value could rise significantly higher.
Popescu appeared to justify that confidence during the 2021/22 season, scoring ten league goals and producing a series of outstanding performances. His speed, close control and ability to score from distance made him look capable of reaching an elite level.
Progress since then has been frustrating. Popescu has scored only 15 league goals across the subsequent four seasons, including just one during 2025/26. He remains capable of producing an exceptional performance, but those displays are often followed by several matches in which he struggles to make an impact.
Concerns have frequently centred on his mentality and the influence of those around him. The attention, money and publicity that arrived early in his career appear to have affected his development, although he remains an established member of the FCSB squad and has signed a new contract with the club.
Popescu reportedly earns approximately €100,000 per year, meaning wages would not present a problem. Persuading FCSB to sell at a sensible price may be more difficult, particularly given the club’s longstanding belief in his potential.
At 23, there is still time for a new environment to transform his career. A Championship club prepared to accept the inconsistency could acquire a player with pace, technique and match-winning ability. Equally, it could sign someone who never recaptures the promise of his teenage years.
That makes Popescu the ultimate high-risk, high-reward option. His realistic ceiling may now be the Championship, but the raw talent remains sufficient to make him one of the most fascinating players in the Romanian market.