So, Costel is a guy hard to find, doesn't like to speak that much with the media, however, a romanian sports magazine did a really impressive bit with him. In Sports Total, a romanian print magazine, Panti spoke about his whole career, from his youth at Aerostar Bacau, to his best, at City.
I managed to translate what he said about our time here. Enjoy:
About himself:
It was not that easy growing up. You know, my parents were deaf-mute and kids were making fun of me. Children are like that, but it was heard for me as it was for them. They fought and raised me good, they went to work for me, to be able to buy me a pair of gloves, a pair of socks or pants. With my first salary I bought my fathers car back. I wouldn't had been here without their suppor
About City:
I played against them with Timisoara, then the whole season, my agent kept telling me that there is a scouter from Manchester looking at me. At that point, I was almost a player of Juventus, but I refused, I was sure it was not a good move. I did not wanted to become a back-up of Buffon. I would had been impossible to be number one there. So, at the end of the season, Mister Marwood called me, offered me a job and I accepted.
My first training here was something else. The level of dicipline that Mancini had was very different from the one I was used too. It took me a while to get used too, but Massimo Battara, our gk coach at that time, Joe (Hart) and Richie (Richard Wright) helped me a lot. Joe took me under his wing from day one, I spent many days at his house, I think I still owe him because all the food I ate there.
About his conflict with Mancini:
There was none. We did not speak before and after that moment in the final with Wigan. Of course, I was dissappointed, who wouldn't be? In the semifinal with Chelsea, I had my best game for City and I wanted to play that game. The media made a lot of hype about that, that Mancini lost the dressing room, but it was not like that, we all wanted to win the Cup.
Mancini - workaholic. Pellegrini - gentleman:
They are two different managers. Mancini is the type of boss you have that works a lot on the tactics. He has 4 plans every game. Pellegrini is a different type of guy. He works a lot at your mental status, type of manager that always had the door open for us players, you could call him in the middle of the night and he will respond. I remember when he came, he took our forwards apart and told them (Aguero, Negredo, Jovetic, Dzeko): look around, those other three are your best friend. You will need them to win it all. He made position rivals into friends. With Mancini it was very different, more intense trainings. He won us the league in 2012, his media handle was amazing, his speech in the dressing room was different, while with the newspapers he tried and succed to make United fall asleep.
Funny moment:
I had a special moment at the club, we finished 1-1 at Southampton, Oswaldo scored a great goal and after the game, monday at the training, Yaya punished me by stealing all my boots because it received that goal. He gaved me back after two days, but imagine I had to train in my socks, there was no other collegue that had my size.
Why he left:
I left because I wanted to, I needed something new in my life. I don't want to talk about what happend at Sunderland, Rat (the captain of the national team), warned me about the coach (Fat Sam), the way he treats players. Time will tell who was right. I wish them the very best.
My time at City was incredible. The fans and the club helped me become a better person in every way. I want them all the best, I know they want it all and it is more of WHEN they will win it, rather than IF. One of the best clubs in the world.
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