Alexandru Băluță

Alexandru Băluță
Băluță training for FCSB in 2023
Personal information
Full name Alexandru Mihail Băluță
Date of birth (1993-09-13) 13 September 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Craiova, Romania
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s)
Attacking midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
 FCSB
Number 25
Youth career
2001–2010 Școala de Fotbal Gheorghe Popescu
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Chindia Târgoviște 44 (14)
2013–2014 Viitorul Constanța 25 (3)
2014–2018 Universitatea Craiova 124 (21)
2018–2020 Slavia Prague 23 (3)
2019–2020 → Slovan Liberec (loan) 21 (4)
2020–2023 Puskás Akadémia 72 (13)
2023– FCSB 47 (9)
International career‡
2010–2011 Romania U17 6 (3)
2012–2014 Romania U21 2 (0)
2017– Romania 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2021

Alexandru Mihail Băluță (Romanian pronunciation: [alekˈsandru mihaˈil bəˈlutsə]; born 13 September 1993) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a forward for Liga I club FCSB.

Club career

Early career

Băluță started his senior career at Chindia Târgoviște in 2011, making 44 appearances and scoring 14 goals in the second division over the course of two seasons.

In 2013, Băluță signed with Viitorul Constanța.[2] He played his first Liga I game on 5 August, a goalless draw against Dinamo București.[3]

Universitatea Craiova

Băluță with Universitatea Craiova in a friendly against Zenit Saint Petersburg, July 2016.

Băluță moved to Universitatea Craiova for €200,000 in the summer of 2014.[4] He made his competitive debut for the Alb-albaștrii in a Cupa Ligii match with Rapid București on 16 July, featuring the full 90 minutes in the 0–1 away loss.[5] Băluță scored his first goal in a Cupa României 2–1 extra time victory over his former club Viitorul, on 29 October 2014.[6]

In the summer of 2017, Băluță changed his squad number from 22 to 10,[7] previously worn by Gustavo Vagenin who also switched to number 7. In August that year, Craiova refused to negotiate with FC Steaua București for the transfer of the player.[8]

On 19 April 2018, Băluță netted the first hat-trick of his professional career, contributing to a 5–1 home success against FC Botoșani for the season's Cupa României.[9] In the final on 27 May, he offered an assist to Alexandru Mitriță as Universitatea Craiova won 2–0 against Hermannstadt.[10]

Slavia Prague

Băluță playing for Slavia Prague against Baník Ostrava, September 2018.

On 22 June 2018, Băluță signed a four-year contract with Czech team Slavia Prague, being assigned the number 20 shirt.[11] Press reported the transfer fee at €3 million.[12][13]

Puskás Akadémia

On 31 July 2020, Băluță signed a three-year contract with Hungarian team Puskás Akadémia.[14]

International career

Băluță made his senior debut for the Romania national team on 13 June 2017, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for Bogdan Stancu and scoring the winner in a 3–2 victory over Chile.[15]

Style of play

Typically deployed as an attacking midfielder or a winger, Băluță is also capable of playing as a false 9.[16][17]

Personal life

Băluță's father, Dumitru, was also a footballer and played in Romania for Pandurii Târgu Jiu, Argeș Pitești, and Jiul Petroșani, and in Hungary for Kecskemét.[18][19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 November 2024[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chindia Târgoviște 2011–12 Liga II 22 7 0 0 — — — 22 7
2012–13 Liga II 22 7 1 0 — — — 22 7
Total 44 14 1 0 — — — 45 14
Viitorul Constanța 2013–14 Liga I 25 3 3 0 — — — 28 3
Universitatea Craiova 2014–15 Liga I 30 2 3 1 1 0 — — 34 3
2015–16 Liga I 33 4 1 0 0 0 — — 34 4
2016–17 Liga I 31 4 3 0 1 0 — — 35 4
2017–18 Liga I 30 11 6 6 — 2 0 — 38 17
Total 124 21 13 7 2 0 2 0 — 141 28
Slavia Prague 2018–19 Czech First League 22 3 4 1 — 6 0 — 32 4
2019–20 1 0 — — 0 0 1 0 2 0
Total 23 3 4 1 — 6 0 1 0 34 4
Slovan Liberec (loan) 2019–20 Czech First League 21 4 4 1 — — — 25 5
Puskás Akadémia 2020–21 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 25 4 3 2 — 0 0 — 28 6
2021–22 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 25 7 2 0 — 3 0 — 30 7
2022–23 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 22 2 3 0 — 2 0 — 27 2
Total 72 13 8 2 — 5 0 — 85 15
FCSB 2023–24 Liga I 32 6 2 1 — 2 0 — 36 7
2024–25 Liga I 15 3 1 1 — 12 1 1 0 29 5
Total 47 9 3 2 — 14 1 1 0 65 12
Career total 356 67 36 13 2 0 27 1 2 0 423 81

International

As of match played 6 June 2021[21]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania
2017 4 1
2018 1 0
2019 0 0
2020 2 0
2021 1 0
Total 8 1
Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Băluță goal.[21]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 13 June 2017 Cluj Arena, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 1  Chile 3–2 3–2 Friendly

Honours

Chindia Târgoviște

Universitatea Craiova[20]

Slavia Prague[20]

FCSB[20]

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Alexandru Mihail Băluță" (in Romanian). CS Universitatea Craiova. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Baluta si Serban au fost transfertati la Viitorul Constanta" [Băluță and Șerban were transferred to Viitorul Constanța] (in Romanian). Târgoviște pe Net. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Viitorul vs. Dinamo Bucureşti – 5 August 2013". Soccerway. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Hagi a dezvăluit cum au ajuns Băluță și Mitriță la Craiova. Detalii din culisele discuțiilor cu patronul Rotaru" [Hagi revealed how Băluță and Mitriță signed for Craiova. Details behind the discussion with owner Rotaru] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Rapid a învins CSU Craiova, scor 1–0, și s-a calificat în optimile Cupei Ligii" [Rapid defeated CSU Craiova, score 1–0, and qualified for the Cupa Ligii round of 16]. România Liberă (in Romanian). 16 July 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  6. ^ "CS U Craiova-Viitorul Constanța 2–1 / CS U Craiova – în premieră în "sferturile" Cupei" [CS U Craiova-Viitorul Constanța 2–1 / CS U Craiova – for the first time in the quarter-finals of the cup] (in Romanian). Televiziunea Română. 29 October 2014. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  7. ^ "#AB10. Baluta i-a dat gol FCSB-ului si s-a bucurat CA RONALDO. Gestul facut in fata suporterilor ros-albastri" [#AB10. Băluță scored against Steaua and celebrated like RONALDO. The gesture made in front of the supporters of "the Red-Blues"] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Ştiinţa refuză oferta de 2,5 milioane de euro făcută de Gigi Becali pentru Băluţă" [Știința turns down the 2.5 million euros offer made by Gigi Becali for Băluță] (in Romanian). Lupamea.ro. 10 August 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Primul hat-trick din carieră pentru revenirea perfectă! Seară magică a lui Băluță, după ce Mangia l-a iertat" [The first hat-trick of his career for a perfect return! Magic evening for Băluță, after Mangia forgave him] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Toată lumea știe, Cupa-i în Bănie!" [Everyone knows, the Cup is in Bănie!] (in Romanian). CS Universitatea Craiova. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Slavii posílí hvězda rumunské ligy" (in Czech). Slavia Prague. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Transfer soc pentru Baluta! Craiova l-a vandut "pe ascuns", romanul a fost deja prezentat" [Shock transfer for Băluță! Craiova sold him "in secret", the Romanian has already been presented] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Alexandru Băluţă, transfer record la Slavia Praga! "10 zile de negocieri intense"" [Alexandru Băluță, record transfer to Slavia Prague! "10 days of intense negotiations"] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Baluta opouští Slavii, jde do Maďarska. Bude hrát za Puskás Akadémia" (in Czech). CNC. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Băluță, care a purtat 13 pe tricou, a debutat cu gol la națională pe 13 iunie. "13 e și ziua mea de naștere!"" [Băluță, who wore the number 13 jersey, scored on his national team debut on 13 June. "My birthday is also on the 13th!"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Băluță și Mateiu fac parte din "Echipa sezonului", în viziunea Betano" [Băluță and Mateiu are in the "Team of the Year", according to Betano] (in Romanian). CS Universitatea Craiova. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Băluţă a impresionat deja la Slavia Praga. "Are calităţi minunate!"" [Băluță already impressed at Slavia Prague. "He has wonderful qualities!"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  18. ^ "Mertens din Banie! Baluta vrea atmosfera la Craiova ca pe Stadio San Paolo din Napoli" [Mertens from Banie! Baluta wants the atmosphere in Craiova to be as the one at Stadio San Paolo in Naples] (in Romanian). sport.ro. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Familia sport – De la fondare, Hagi a adus la gruparea constănțeană o mulțime de fotbaliști ai căror tați, unchi sau rude apropiate au fost sportivi de performanță" [The sport family "Since founding, Hagi brought to the team from Constanta a lot of footballers whose fathers, uncles or close relatives were performance athletes] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  20. ^ a b c d Alexandru Băluță at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  21. ^ a b "Alexandru Băluță". European Football. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Fotbalistul lunii – Iulie 2017" [Player of the Month – July 2017] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. August 2017. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
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