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Horațiu Moldovan

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Horațiu Moldovan
Moldovan with Rapid București in 2023
Personal information
Full name Horațiu Alexandru Moldovan
Date of birth (1998-01-20) 20 January 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Sassuolo
(on loan from Atlético Madrid)
Number 31
Youth career
Școala de Fotbal Ivansuc Cluj
0000–2010 Ardealul Cluj
2010–2017 CFR Cluj
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 CFR Cluj 0 (0)
2017–2018 → Hermannstadt (loan) 16 (0)
2018 → Voința Turnu Măgurele (loan)
2018 → Energeticianul (loan) 5 (0)
2019 Ripensia Timișoara 15 (0)
2019–2020 Sepsi OSK 0 (0)
2020 Ripensia Timișoara 3 (0)
2020–2021 UTA Arad 4 (0)
2021–2024 Rapid București 112 (0)
2024– Atlético Madrid 0 (0)
2024– → Sassuolo (loan) 7 (0)
International career‡
2022– Romania 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 June 2024

Horațiu Alexandru Moldovan (Romanian pronunciation: [hoˈrat͡sju alekˈsandru moldoˈvan]; born 20 January 1998) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie B club Sassuolo, on loan from La Liga club Atlético Madrid, and the Romania national team.

A youth product of his hometown club CFR Cluj, Moldovan briefly represented several sides during the first part of his career before becoming a starter at Rapid București in 2021. Three years later, his performances inspired a transfer to Spanish team Atlético Madrid.

Internationally, Moldovan earned his first cap for Romania in November 2022, in a 2–1 friendly loss to Slovenia. He represented the country in the UEFA Euro 2024.

Early life

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Before turning to junior football, Moldovan was passionate about kart racing, engines and speed. He stated that he saw his first football at age seven, and "From that moment on, football was everything".[1]

Club career

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Early career

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Moldovan spent a large part of his junior career at his hometown side CFR Cluj, but did not make his senior debut there and was instead loaned out to Hermannstadt, Voința Turnu Măgurele, and Energeticianul, respectively. Between 2019 and 2020, Moldovan had a series of transfers; he initially signed for Ripensia Timișoara, then moved to Sepsi OSK, and subsequently returned to Ripensia Timișoara.

UTA Arad

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On 10 August 2020, Moldovan joined UTA Arad.[2] Twelve days later, he made his Liga I debut in a 1–1 away draw at Viitorul Constanța.[1] He assumed a substitute role at the team, only recording three additional appearances throughout the remainder of his spell.

Rapid București

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On 6 January 2021, Moldovan moved to Liga II side Rapid București on a one-and-a-half-year contract,[3] establishing himself as a regular starter. After Rapid's promotion to the top tier, he played 37 league matches and kept 11 clean sheets in the 2021–22 season, his consistency aiding the team to finish ninth overall.

On 14 December 2022, Moldovan saved a penalty kick in a 3–1 derby win over Petrolul Ploiești.[4] On 21 May 2023, he agreed to a one-year contract extension lasting until the summer of 2025.[5] On 21 December that year, the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper announced that Moldovan came fourth in voting for the 2023 Romanian Footballer of the Year award.[6]

Atlético Madrid

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On 24 January 2024, Moldovan transferred to La Liga club Atlético Madrid for a €800,000 fee, representing his release clause.[7] He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract[8] and was assigned the number 1 shirt. Moldovan did not record his debut by the end of the 2023–24 season, being considered a backup option for Jan Oblak.[9]

Loan to Sassuolo

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On 23 August 2024, Moldovan was loaned to Serie B side Sassuolo for one season.[10]

International career

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On 17 November 2022, Moldovan made his debut for the Romania national team in a 2–1 friendly loss to Slovenia at Cluj Arena.[11] The following year, he appeared in eight matches of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, aiding his nation in winning its group undefeated.[12]

On 7 June 2024, Moldovan was named in Romania's squad for Euro 2024.[13] However, he lost his starter status to Florin Niță due to his complete lack of playing time at Atlético Madrid, as the country won its group but was eliminated by the Netherlands in the round of 16.[14]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 4 November 2024[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hermannstadt (loan) 2016–17 Liga III 13 0 — — — 13 0
2017–18 Liga II 3 0 2 0 — — 5 0
Total 16 0 2 0 — — 18 0
Voința Turnu Măgurele (loan) 2017–18 Liga III ? ? — — — ? ?
Energeticianul (loan) 2018–19 Liga II 5 0 1 0 — — 6 0
Ripensia Timișoara 2018–19 Liga II 15 0 0 0 — — 15 0
Sepsi OSK 2019–20 Liga I 0 0 0 0 — — 4 0
Ripensia Timișoara 2019–20 Liga II 3 0 — — — 3 0
UTA Arad 2020–21 Liga I 4 0 0 0 — — 4 0
Rapid București 2020–21 Liga II 14 0 — — — 14 0
2021–22 Liga I 37 0 0 0 — — 37 0
2022–23 Liga I 39 0 0 0 — — 39 0
2023–24 Liga I 22 0 1 0 — — 23 0
Total 112 0 1 0 — — 113 0
Atlético Madrid 2023–24 La Liga 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Sassuolo (loan) 2024–25 Serie B 7 0 0 0 — — 7 0
Career total 162 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 166 0

International

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As of match played 7 June 2024[16]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania
2022 1 0
2023 8 0
2024 2 0
Total 11 0

Honours

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Hermannstadt

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b "Navas de la UTA » Horațiu Moldovan, surpriza primei etape din Liga 1" [Navas from UTA » Horațiu Moldovan, the surprise of the first fixture of the Liga 1]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 26 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Tânărul Horațiu Moldovan va fi al treilea portar al UTA-ei" [The young Horațiu Moldovan will be UTA's third goalkeeper] (in Romanian). Arad Obiectiv. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  3. ^ "OFICIAL | Rapid a transferat un portar din Liga 1! Concurență pentru Drăghia" [OFFICIAL | Rapid transferred a goalkeeper from Liga 1! Competition for Drăghia] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Rapid – Petrolul 3–1. Spectacol total! Giuleștenii câștigă "Primvs Derby"" [Rapid – Petrolul 3–1. Total show! Giuleștenii win the "Primvs Derby"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  5. ^ "HORAȚIU A SEMNAT PÂNĂ ÎN 2025" [HORAȚIU SIGNED UNTIL 2025] (in Romanian). FC Rapid București. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  6. ^ "EXCLUSIV / VIDEO Radu Drăgușin este "Fotbalistul anului" în Ancheta Gazetei Sporturilor 2023: "Sunt fericit și mândru! O bucurie pentru că evoluția mea în fotbal este una corectă și frumoasă"" [EXCLUSIVE / VIDEO Radu Drăgușin is the "Footballer of the Year" in the 2023 Gazeta Sporturilor Survey: "I am happy and proud! It's a joy because my growth in football is a correct and beautiful one"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 21 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Diferență colosală! Atletico plătește 800.000 pe Moldovan și 25 de milioane pe un puști de 18 ani!" [Colossal difference! Atlético pays 800,000 for Moldovan and 25 million for an 18-year-old kid!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Welcome, Horațiu Moldovan!". Atlético Madrid. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  9. ^ "O nouă lovitură cruntă pentru Horațiu Moldovan după ce românul nu a prins niciun minut la Atletico Madrid! Ce se va întâmpla cu rezerva lui Jan Oblak la EURO 2024: "Am spus-o de mai multe ori"" [Another cruel hit for Horațiu Moldovan after the Romanian did not get a single minute at Atlético Madrid! What will happen to Jan Oblak's substitute at EURO 2024: "I have said it several times"] (in Romanian). ProSport. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Agreement with Sassuolo for Moldovan loan". Atlético Madrid. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Rapidiștii sunt în extaz! Horațiu Moldovan debutează la echipa națională ca titular în România – Slovenia" [Rapidiștii are ecstatic! Horațiu Moldovan makes his debut for the national team as a starter in Romania - Slovenia] (in Romanian). ProSport. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  12. ^ "VICTORIE cu Elveția și mergem la EURO 2024 de pe primul loc în grupă!" [WIN against Switzerland and we go to EURO 2024 from first place in the group!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Lotul României pentru EURO 2024" [Romania's squad for EURO 2024] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Romania 0–3 Netherlands: Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo score as Dutch reach quarters". BBC. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  15. ^ Horațiu Moldovan at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Horațiu Moldovan". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  17. ^ "EXCLUSIV / VIDEO Radu Drăgușin este "Fotbalistul anului" în Ancheta Gazetei Sporturilor 2023: "Sunt fericit și mândru! O bucurie pentru că evoluția mea în fotbal este una corectă și frumoasă"" [EXCLUSIVE / VIDEO Radu Drăgușin is the "Footballer of the Year" in the 2023 Gazeta Sporturilor Survey: "I am happy and proud! It's a joy because my growth in football is a correct and beautiful one"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 21 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
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