It is early days, of course, but former West Ham United captain and Premier League stalwart Kurt Zouma may just be sparking a Romanian revolution over at CFR Cluj.
When Zouma completed a stunning move to Romania a month ago, it was hard to imagine how this could realistically be topped.
Victor Angelescu, the president of league rivals Rapid Bucharest, admitted himself that the former France international immediately became ‘one of the best players’ ever to sign for a club in Romanian football.
A Premier League, Champions League and Conference League winner – Zouma called West Ham’s European success his proudest moment, by the way – signing a footballer with such a CV was pretty much unheard of.
Even at a side who have won the domestic title eight times in the last 17 years.
Yet, the one-time West Ham United captain might have actually started something of a trend. Because, just days after arriving in Cluj, he was joined by Islam Slimani. The one-time Leicester City, Newcastle, Monaco and Sporting Lisbon striker.
Marcus Coco, a Ligue 1 veteran of nearly 300 appearances, is in the building now too.
Suddenly, the prospect of one-time Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech joining Zouma, Slimani and co does not feel quite so unlikely.
Former West Ham United captain Kurt Zouma could reunite with ex-Chelsea ace Hakim Ziyech
According to Neletu Varga, Cluj’s owner, Kurt Zouma was attracted by the ‘project’ on offer in Romania. The Railwaymen are determined to secure a return to the Champions League after over a decade away.
For footballers in the position of Zouma, Slimani and potentially Ziyech too, elite European football is something they presumably felt had passed them by. The chance to take one last stab at the competition, then, is understandably pretty tempting.
According to Pro Sport, another ‘spectacular’ transfer is now being negotiated. Ziyech is in the process of weighing up his options.
And Zouma, who conquered the continent alongside the Morocco international at Stamford Bridge, is reportedly doing his very best to convince Ziyech to follow in his Eastern European footsteps. ‘Delighted’ at the prospect of a reunion at the Doctor Constantin Radulescu Stadium.
“I have no idea if this transfer can be done. I really don’t know. [But] if you had told me before that Zouma and Slimani would come to CFR, I would have told you that I didn’t believe you. Now I don’t know, very honestly,” former Romania international Raul Rusescu tells Gazeta Sporturilor.
It seems that the arrivals of Zouma, Slimani and to a lesser extent Coco have changed people’s perspectives of what is really achievable in Romania.
“If [Ziyech] comes, it’s definitely a plus for CFR,” Rusescu adds. “Let him be healthy. He’s 32 years old, Zouma is 30. These players can play for another five or six years, without any worries. It would be a big plus.
“If Zouma, Ziyech and Slimani are at at least 30 per cent of the capacity they had at the highest point of their careers, we will enjoy their football.”
Zouma and Ziyech recently had spells in Saudi Arabian football
Ziyech, who joined Chelsea in a £33 million deal from Erik ten Hag’s Ajax in 2020, was most recently seen in Saudi Arabia with Al-Duhail. He is now a free-agent.
Zouma spent time in the Middle East himself, though the former West Ham centre-back discovered ‘amateurish’ conditions at an Al-Orobah outfit whose facilities clearly didn’t match their ambition.
“In terms of character, in terms of attitude, I see how he’s preparing. It’s not by chance that he’s reached the level he’s at,” Cristi Balaj, Cluj’s president, told Prima Sport recently. “[Zouma] left a very good impression on me.
“Four years ago, he was lifting the Champions League trophy. And, two years ago, he was playing in the Premier League. “It so happened that last season he played in Saudi Arabia.
“The conditions left something to be desired, in the sense that there was no professionalism that ensures you a tone, an attitude, a strength, a power of play, especially in terms of the training that is carried out there.
“They did not have a gym at the club. They did not have anywhere to do extra work. Sometimes there was no water in the shower. [The Al-Orobah players] said it was a bit amateurish.”
