The agent of former Arsenal midfielder Catalin Cirjan has hit out as his critics after he was released by the north London club.
The 21-year-old arrived at the Gunners youth academy from Romanian side Viitorul Domnesti back in 2019.
Throughout his Arsenal career, the player was hindered by knee injuries that sidelined him for over a year - but still managed to put pen-to-paper on a new deal at the Emirates Stadium in May 2022.
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After signing the contract, appearing in a pre-season friendly and regularly training with the first team, Cirjan spent the 2023/24 campaign back in Romania on loan with Rapid Bucuresti. He made 17 appearances and recorded one assist.
The Gunners have since confirmed that Cirjan is one of the players they will be releasing this summer, despite having a year left on his deal at the club.
Speaking on his personal Instagram account, Catalin posted a dignified parting message to the club.
"I joined the club as a kid and I left like a man," he said.
"I have the best memories but I went through some very tough situations like my injuries.
"I fell but I always came back better and stronger but I couldn’t do all of this without the help and support from all the staff and players.
"I was so lucky to be able to play and learn from some of the best players in the world and the best coaches. Now it’s time to move on and start a new chapter in my career."
However, his agent, Catalin Sarmasan, has taken a slightly different approach to the situation on Facebook (via Online Gooner) - calling out critics while fiercely defending the player.
“The news that Arsenal and Catalin Cirjan decided to go their separate ways, even though there is still a year of contract, has triggered a general hysteria among Romanians with black souls,” he said.
“There was not so much joy even when the Gunners signed Catalin.
“‘Brothers, we won, Cirjan failed to replace Odegaard at Arsenal! Now we are happy, we were afraid he would succeed and he would show us how mediocre we are,’ thought the ‘deserving ones’.
“What the happiness of today did not take into account is that this boy of only 21 years old, on whose arm the armband of the U23 team of one of the most prestigious football academies in the world stood, fell and got up more times than they graduated a form of education that allows them to judge a child with total respect towards his work. And he will do it again, and again.
“Your story is not finished, Catalin! It has only just begun, and bad people were also needed, so you can appreciate the good ones more."
“Those of us who know you, know what you are capable of and we also know that a year less good does not mean a failed career or a lost life.”
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Topics: Arsenal, Transfer News, Premier League, Football
Patrick Rowe