▁Pop es cu ▁( ; ▁born ▁ 2 7 ▁February ▁ 1 9 9 4 ) ▁is ▁a ▁Roman ian ▁professional ▁footballer ▁who ▁plays ▁as ▁a ▁mid f iel der ▁or ▁a ▁right ▁back ▁for ▁FC SB . ▁ ▁Club ▁career ▁ ▁FC SB ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁FC SB ▁transferred ▁Pop es cu ▁for ▁und is closed ▁fee , ▁with ▁the ▁player ▁pen ning ▁a ▁five - year ▁deal ▁with ▁a ▁€ 1 0 ▁million ▁buy out ▁clause . ▁He ▁made ▁his ▁debut ▁in ▁the ▁Liga ▁I ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁August ▁against ▁FC ▁B oto ș ani , ▁a ▁game ▁Ste au a ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁win ▁ 2 – 0 . ▁On ▁ 8 ▁September , ▁also ▁against ▁B oto ș ani ▁but ▁in ▁the ▁Cup a ▁Lig ii , ▁Pop es cu ▁scored ▁his ▁first ▁goal ▁for ▁the ▁Ro ș - al ba ș tri i . ▁ ▁He ▁finally ▁scored ▁his ▁first ▁league ▁goal ▁for ▁the ▁club ▁with ▁a ▁free ▁kick ▁in ▁a ▁ 2 – 0 ▁victory ▁over ▁C FR ▁Cl uj ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁During ▁early ▁April , ▁it ▁was ▁reported ▁that ▁C elt ic ▁and ▁South am pton ▁were ▁interested ▁in ▁signing ▁Pop es cu ▁ ▁International ▁career ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁Pop es cu ▁was ▁selected ▁in ▁Roman ia ' s ▁squad ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁UEFA ▁European ▁Under - 2 1 ▁Championship ▁qual ifier