Robert Pires, World (1998) and European (2000) champion with France, said Gheorghe Hagi is one of the best players of all time. The former Arsenal player also talked about football in Romania.

Robert Pires: “Gheorghe Hagi is the most famous Romanian player”

In Bucharest for Thursday’s charity match organized in favor of the Mihai Nesu Foundation, Pires said Romania should be proud of Hagi.

“The most famous Romanian player is Gheorghe Hagi. I am convinced that a football player like him is an example for Romania. I grew up with Platini, with Maradona… but Hagi is one of the best footballers of all time.

Romania should be proud of him. Hagi is an ambassador for this country and an example for young players who today see his game on recordings on the Internet” – Robert Piresquoted by Agerpres.

Robert Pires: “There are talented players in Romanian football”

Speaking about the friendly match between France and Romania (2002, Paris, home score – 2:1), Pires noted that the Romanian players have very good technical skills.

“I think I won then. 2-1? I think so, I don’t remember the bill. But I know very well that regardless of whether it is friendly or official, the Romanian national team always wanted to win. Then it was a difficult match because Romania had talented players.

Romanian players have very good technical skills. To be honest, it’s hard to follow Romanian football these days. I live in Spain and there I watch matches from the championships of France, England, Spain, unfortunately the matches from the championship of Romania are not broadcast on TV. But I know that there are talented players in Romanian football”, – Robert Pires.

Robert Pires will play on Thursday in a charity match organized by the Association of Amateur and Non-Amateur Footballers of Romania (AFAN) at the Arcul de Triumf Stadium in the capital, in aid of the Mihai Nesu Foundation, between a team of former Romanian football greats and the FIFPro Europe team.

The game will have two halves of 35 minutes and will be played on May 4, 2023 at 18:00 at the Arc de Triumf Stadium in Bucharest.

Among the Romanian footballers who will perform are Bohdan Lobonc, Rezvan Rats, Dorin Goian, Lucian Sanmartian, Daniel Niculae, Nicolae Dike or Ionel Danculescu.

Former greats such as Volodymyr Schmitser, Robert Pires, Georgios Karagounis, as well as current FCSB coach Elias Charalambous will play for the international team.