In the lobby, he spotted familiar faces. Alexandru Maxim from Mainz (78 OVR), Nicolae Stanciu from Sparta Prague (77 OVR), Vlad Chiricheș from Napoli (80 OVR). Established internationals, players with ozens of caps.
And there—talking to the coaching staff—was Florin Tănase (74 OVR), his former captain at FCSB.
"Andrei!" Tănase spotted him and broke into a huge grin. "Look at you! Ajax player, Champions League qualifier. You've done well, kid."
They embraced, and suddenly Andrei felt less out of place. At least one familiar face.
"You deserve to be here," Tănase said quietly. "Don't doubt that. You earned this call-up."
"Thank you, Captain."
"Not your captain anymore. We're equals now—both national team players."
The squad gathered for an initial meeting. Twenty-three players—a mix of experienced internationals and younger prospects. Andrei was the youngest by two years.
Cosmin Contra addressed them in Romanian, his voice firm but encouraging.
"We failed to reach the World Cup. That hurts. But we must look forward—Nations League, Euro 2020 qualifying. This is a new beginning, and some of you are part of that future."
He gestured toward Andrei and two other young players. "These are our prospects. They're here to learn, to experience international football, to push the established players. Competition makes everyone better."
After the meeting, the squad trained at CFR's stadium. The session was tactical—working on defensive shape, transition moments, set pieces. The intensity was professional, serious.
Andrei partnered with Alexandru Maxim in a passing drill. The Mainz midfielder was technically excellent, his passes crisp and weighted perfectly.
"You're doing well at Ajax," Maxim said between repetitions. "I watched the Rosenborg matches. Good performances."
"Thank you. The level there is very high."
"Eredivisie is a good league for development. Technical, tactical. Better than Bundesliga for young players—less physical, more emphasis on skill." Maxim smiled. "You made the right choice going to Ajax. Inter Milan would have buried you in Primavera."
Word had spread about Andrei turning down Inter. Most players thought he was smart; some thought he was crazy.
That evening, the squad had dinner together at the hotel. Andrei sat with younger players—Denis Alibec (73 OVR, his former FCSB teammate who'd transferred to Astra Giurgiu ), George Pușcaș , a striker playing in Italy's youth leagues and goalkeeper Ionuț Radu
"How's Amsterdam?" Alibec asked. "Worth leaving Romania?"
"Completely. The level is different. Training, tactics, facilities—everything is more professional."
"I tried Italy with Bologna, didn't work out. Now I'm back at Astra. Maybe I should've gone somewhere like Netherlands instead—more opportunities for development."
"It's never too late. You're still young."
"And Elena went with you?" Alibec grinned. "That journalist you were dating?"
"Yes. We're living together in Amsterdam."
"Lucky bastard. Beautiful and smart."
They laughed, the camaraderie familiar despite the national team setting.
Romania vs Spain - International Friendly
Cluj Arena, Cluj-Napoca
September 6, 2017
The match against Spain was a massive test. La Roja remained one of Europe's elite teams despite failing to defend their World Cup in 2014 and exiting Euro 2016 in the Round of 16.
Spain Starting XI (4-3-3):
GK:David de Gea (Manchester United)
RB: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
CB:Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
CB: Gerard Piqué (Barcelona)
LB:Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
CDM:Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
CM:Thiago Alcântara (Bayern Munich)
CM: Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona)
RW:Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)
ST: Diego Costa (Atlético Madrid)
LW:David Silva (Manchester City)
World champions in 2010, European champions in 2008 and 2012. A lineup filled with legendary names.
Romania Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
GK:Ciprian Tătărușanu (Nantes) - 80 OVR
RB:Romario Benzar (FCSB) - 73 OVR
CB:Vlad Chiricheș (Napoli) - 80 OVR
CB: Dragoș Grigore (Ludogorets) - 75 OVR
LB:Alin Tosca (Universitatea Craiova) - 72 OVR
CDM:Mihai Pintilii (FCSB) - 72 OVR
CDM:Alexandru Maxim (Mainz) - 78 OVR
RW: Nicolae Stanciu (Sparta Prague) - 77 OVR
CAM:Constantin Budescu (Astra Giurgiu) - 75 OVR
LW:Gabriel Torje (Osmanlispor) - 76 OVR
ST:Bogdan Stancu (Genclerbirligi) - 74 OVR
Andrei was named on the bench—expected for his first call-up. He sat in the dugout wearing Romania's yellow away kit, number 20, watching as Spain dominated possession from kickoff.
The technical gap was enormous. Spain's passing was mesmerizing—quick, precise, constant movement. Romania defended deep, compact, trying to stay organized.
In the 34th minute, Spain's quality told. Iniesta played a gorgeous through ball that split Romania's defense. Diego Costa finished clinically. 1-0 Spain.
Halftime arrived with Romania still in the match despite Spain's dominance. Contra made changes at the break, bringing on fresh legs.
In the 67th minute, he turned to Andrei.
"Warm up. You're going on for Stanciu in five minutes."
Adrenaline flooded his system. His Romania debut. Against Spain. At the Cluj Arena where 20,000 Romanian fans were creating a passionate atmosphere.
In the 72nd minute, the substitution board went up. Number 10 off Stanciu , number 20 on
Andrei jogged onto the pitch, and the crowd applauded warmly. A hometown boy—from nearby Iași—making his national team debut.
ROMANIA DEBUT
Age: 18 years, 6 months
Opposition: Spain (World Cup 2010 winners)
Pressure Level: High
The first touch came immediately—a pass from Pintilii in midfield. Andrei controlled it, looked up, and played it safely wide to the fullback. Build confidence, find rhythm.
Spain's pressing was intelligent, coordinated. Whenever Andrei received the ball, two players closed instantly. He had to play quickly—one or two touches maximum.
In the 79th minute, he nearly created something. Romania won possession in midfield and countered quickly. Andrei drove forward with the ball, three Spanish defenders retreating.
He could see Florin Tănase (who'd come on as a substitute) making a run down the center, could see space opening. But Sergio Busquets—one of the world's best defensive midfielders—read the play perfectly and intercepted Andrei's attempted through ball.
Chance created but denied
Opponent quality: Elite level
The remaining minutes passed quickly. Romania defended desperately, Spain probed patiently. In the 88th minute, Marco Asensio added a second goal with a brilliant strike from distance. 2-0.
Final whistle: Romania 0-2 Spain.
A respectable defeat against superior opposition. Andrei had played eighteen minutes—not long enough to truly impact the match, but enough to get a taste of international football.
Debut Statistics:
Minutes: 18
Touches: 11
Pass Completion: 82% (9/11)
Key Passes: 1
Dribbles Attempted: 2 | Completed: 1
Rating: 6.4/10
In the mixed zone afterward, Romanian journalists approached him.
"Andrei, congratulations on your debut. How did it feel?"
"Incredible. Putting on the Romania shirt, representing my country—it's a dream come true. I wish we'd gotten a better result, but Spain is world-class."
"You're the youngest player in the squad. Do you feel the responsibility of being part of Romania's future?"
"I feel honored. This is just the beginning of my international career. I have so much to learn, but I'll work hard to deserve this opportunity."
After the match, Contra pulled him aside.
"Good debut. You didn't look overwhelmed, played with intelligence. Against Netherlands on Saturday, you might start. Show me you're ready."
"I will, Mister. Thank you."
Romania National Team Camp
Bucharest
September 7-8, 2017
The squad traveled to Bucharest for the second friendly. Training shifted to the Stadionul Național—Andrei's former home stadium with FCSB, where he'd won the championship just months ago.
Walking onto that pitch wearing Romania colors felt surreal. Memories flooded back—the derby goals, the title-deciding match against Cluj, the celebrations.
"Strange being back?" Tănase asked, noticing his expression.
"Very. Feels like years ago, but it's only been two months."
"You've lived a lot in two months. Ajax, Champions League, national team—you've accelerated fast."
Training that day focused on Netherlands' tactics. The Dutch were in transition—they'd shockingly failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, finishing third in their group behind France and Sweden.
Netherlands Squad (September 2017)
Coach: Dick Advocaat (caretaker after Danny Blind's dismissal)
Key Players: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich ), Wesley Sneijder (Nice ), Davy Klaassen (Everton ), Kevin Strootman (Roma ), Memphis Depay (Lyon ), Bas Dost (Sporting CP )
A squad in transition, searching for identity after the World Cup failure. But still dangerous—filled with talent, playing at home in front of passionate fans.
On Friday, Contra announced the starting lineup. Andrei's heart raced as he heard his name.
"Andrei, you're starting on the left side of the attacking midfield three. Show me what you showed against Spain, but with more confidence. These are your Ajax teammates you know their style."
First International Start
Opposition: Netherlands
Venue: Stadionul Național, Bucharest
Significance: Playing against club teammates' national team
Romania vs Netherlands - International Friendly
Stadionul Național, Bucharest
September 9, 2017
The stadium was half-full—about 25,000 fans for a friendly that mattered more for pride than points. Still, the atmosphere was passionate. Romanian fans wanted revenge for the Dutch dominance in past meetings.
Andrei's mother had traveled from Iași to watch. Elena was also there, sitting in the stands with Ana, forming a support system he desperately needed.
Romania Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
GK: Ciprian Tătărușanu (Nantes) - 80 OVR
RB:Romario Benzar (FCSB) - 73 OVR
CB:Vlad Chiricheș (Napoli) - 80 OVR
CB:Dragoș Grigore (Ludogorets) - 75 OVR
LB:Cristian Manea (CFR Cluj) - 72 OVR
CDM: Alexandru Chipciu (Mainz) - 76 OVR
CDM:Alexandru Maxim (Mainz) - 78 OVR
RW: Nicolae Stanciu (Sparta Prague) - 77 OVR
CAM: Florin Tănase (FCSB) - 74 OVR
LW:Andrei Luca (Ajax) - 76 OVR
ST: Denis Alibec (Astra Giurgiu) - 74 OVR
Netherlands Starting XI (4-3-3):
GK:Jasper Cillessen (Barcelona)
RB:Kenny Tete (Lyon)
CB:Virgil van Dijk (Southampton)
CB:Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax)
LB: Daley Blind (Manchester United)
CM: Kevin Strootman (Roma)
CM: Davy Klaassen (Everton) -
CM: Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord)
RW: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
ST:Bas Dost (Sporting CP)
LW:Memphis Depay (Lyon)
Andrei spotted Matthijs de Ligt in the Netherlands lineup—his Ajax teammate and friend. They'd become close over the past months. Now they were opponents.
During the national anthems, Andrei sang "Deșteaptă-te, române!" with full voice, feeling the weight of representing his country. His mother was crying in the stands—he could see her even from the pitch.
First International Start:
Pressure: Moderate (friendly but meaningful)
Personal Stakes: High (proving himself at international level)
Composure: 63.4/99
Kickoff.
The match started cautiously, both teams feeling each other out. Netherlands controlled possession initially—their technical quality evident—but Romania defended well, staying compact.
In the 15th minute, Andrei had his first real involvement. He received the ball on the left touchline, one-on-one with Kenny Tete . The Lyon right-back was quick, experienced.
Andrei feinted to go outside, then cut sharply inside. Tete bought it partially but recovered quickly. Andrei played a quick pass to Tănase centrally, then moved into space.
Tănase returned the ball immediately—a one-two combination. Andrei was now driving toward the penalty area, De Ligt coming across to cover.
His Ajax teammate knew his tendencies—where he liked to go, how he moved. But Andrei knew De Ligt's defensive patterns too.
Instead of cutting inside as expected, Andrei went outside, surprising his friend. He whipped in a cross with his right foot.
The delivery was perfect—clearing the first defender, dropping to the back post where Alibec was arriving.
Alibec struck it on the half-volley. Cillessen saved brilliantly, tipping it over.
Chance created
Understanding: Used club familiarity against club teammate
Crossing: +0.1
The corner came to nothing, but Romania's confidence grew. They could compete with Netherlands, even on equal terms.
In the 28th minute, Romania took the lead.
Chipciu won the ball in midfield and immediately played it forward to Andrei. The pass was slightly behind him, forcing Andrei to adjust.
He controlled it awkwardly, De Ligt closing fast. But instead of trying to turn, Andrei played a clever backheel to the overlapping Manea.
The right-back crossed low into the box. Tănase met it with a sliding finish. 1-0 Romania.
Pre-assist recorded (International)
Clever play under pressure
Vision: +0.1
The stadium erupted. Romanian fans celebrated wildly, while the Dutch supporters fell silent.
Netherlands pushed forward desperately, their pride wounded. Robben became more involved, cutting inside from the right wing onto his famous left foot. Depay tried to create from the left.
But Romania defended intelligently, staying compact, forcing Netherlands wide.
Halftime arrived with Romania leading 1-0—a remarkable result against a team that, despite World Cup failure, still possessed world-class players.
In the dressing room, Contra was animated. "Forty-five minutes! One half from a famous victory! Stay focused, stay disciplined!"
The second half began with Netherlands applying pressure. Dick Advocaat made tactical changes, pushing more players forward.
In the 58th minute, they equalized. Robben cut inside from the right—his signature move—and curled a shot into the far corner. Classic Robben. Unstoppable. 1-1.
Quality Gap Evident: world-class winger vs center-back
The match opened up now, both teams attacking. Spaces appeared, transitions became crucial.
In the 71st minute, Andrei nearly restored Romania's lead.
Stanciu won the ball high up the pitch and played a quick pass to Andrei on the left. He had space—rare in this match—and drove forward.
Two defenders closed on him. He could shoot from distance, could try to beat them, could pass.
He chose to shoot—a curling effort with his right foot aimed for the far corner.
Cillessen dove full-stretch, fingertips brushing the ball just enough to push it wide.
Shot on target
Nearly scored first international goal
Long Shots: +0.1
Andrei put his hands on his head in frustration. So close.
In the 76th minute, Contra substituted him for fresh legs. As Andrei jogged off, the Romanian crowd gave him a standing ovation. He'd impressed—not scored, not dominated, but shown he belonged at international level.
De Ligt was waiting to shake his hand. "Good match," the Dutch defender said with a smile. "You're getting better every week."
"So are you. That was difficult playing against you."
"Likewise. See you back in Amsterdam."
Final whistle: Romania 1-1 Netherlands.
A draw, but a moral victory. Romania had competed with a traditional European power and earned respect.
First International Start Complete:
Minutes: 76
Rating: 7.3/10
Key Contributions: 1 pre-assist, 1 shot on target, constant threat
Status: Impressed coaching staff
Updated Overall Rating: 76.5 → 76.8
International Experience: +0.2
Crossing: +0.1
Vision: +0.1
Long Shots: +0.1
Composure: +0.2
In the mixed zone, Romanian media surrounded him.
"Andrei, excellent performance. You looked comfortable at international level."
"Thank you. Playing for Romania is an honor. I'm just happy to contribute to a good team performance."
"You nearly scored. How close did it feel?"
"Very close! Cillessen made a great save. But that's football—small margins. Next time, hopefully it goes in."
"Will you be called up for the Nations League when it starts next year?"
"That's for the coach to decide. I just want to keep improving, keep earning opportunities."
After all the obligations, Andrei found his mother and Elena waiting outside the stadium.
Ana hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Your father saw that, dragul meu. I know he did. You were wonderful."
"Thank you, Mama."
Elena hugged him next. "You played brilliantly. That shot—I thought it was in."
"So did I."
They went to dinner together—Andrei, Elena, and his mother—at a traditional Romanian restaurant in Bucharest's old town. Sarmale, mici, mămăligă—foods Andrei had missed in Amsterdam.
"When do you go back to Netherlands?" Ana asked.
"Tomorrow morning. Ajax plays PSV Eindhoven on Sunday—big match."
"Always moving, always playing." Ana smiled sadly. "I'm proud of you, but I miss you terribly."
"I miss you too, Mama. But this is what I worked for. What TDad wanted for me."
"I know. And he would be so proud."
That night, lying in a Bucharest hotel with Elena, Andrei reflected on the week. His Romania debut against Spain, his first start against Netherlands, earning respect at international level.
International Break Summary:
Caps Earned: 2 (Spain, Netherlands)
Minutes Played: 94
Contributions: 1 pre-assist
Overall Performance: Positive impression
Status: Established as Romania international
Final Updated Overall Rating: 76.5 → 76.8
International Experience: +0.2
Crossing: +0.1
Vision: +0.1
Long Shots: +0.1
Composure: +0.2
Overall: +0.3 total growth
The next morning, they flew back to Amsterdam. Andrei had a Champions League debut waiting in three days, then the domestic season resuming.
The beautiful game was relentless, demanding, exhausting.
And he loved every second of it.