Mihnea Rădulescu
.jpg) Rădulescu with Universitatea Craiova in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mihnea Gabriel Rădulescu | ||
| Date of birth | 17 September 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Ploiești, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Universitatea Craiova/CSM Slatina | ||
| Number | 18/ | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2023 | Petrolul Ploiești | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2025 | Petrolul Ploiești | 48 | (5) |
| 2024 | → Gloria Buzău (loan) | 11 | (4) |
| 2025– | Universitatea Craiova | 14 | (2) |
| 2026– | CSM Slatina | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023–2024 | Romania U19 | 11 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Romania U20 | 4 | (1) |
| 2024– | Romania U21 | 3 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 August 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 September 2025 | |||
Mihnea Gabriel Rădulescu (born 17 September 2005) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga I club Universitatea Craiova and for Liga II club CSM Slatina.
A youth product of Petrolul Ploiești, Rădulescu made his senior debut for the team in 2022, aged 16. He became a regular starter following a loan to Gloria Buzău in 2024, and one year later transferred to Universitatea Craiova. There, he won the championship title and the Cupa României in his first season at the club.
Internationally, Rădulescu represented Romania at several youth levels.
Club career
Petrolul Ploiești
A youth product of his hometown club Petrolul Ploiești, Rădulescu made his senior debut on 15 May 2022, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Saim Tudor in a goalless Liga II away draw against Unirea Slobozia. He made his professional debut on 10 April 2023, replacing Jair in the 90th minute of a 2–0 home Liga I victory over Mioveni.[1]
On 23 January 2024, Rădulescu was loaned to Liga II side Gloria Buzău for the remainder of the season.[2] He scored his first career goal on 25 February, in a 5–1 away win over Progresul Spartac, and added three more goals in a total of eleven appearances during the loan spell.
Upon returning to Ploiești, Petrolul manager Mehmet Topal handed Rădulescu his first league start on 16 August 2024, in a 2–1 away victory over Unirea Slobozia, where he opened the scoring.[3] On 27 September, he scored his first brace in a 4–1 home win against Hermannstadt.[4] He finished the 2024–25 Liga I season with 35 appearances and five goals, as his team placed ninth in the league table.
Universitatea Craiova
On 20 May 2025, Rădulescu transferred to fellow league club Universitatea Craiova for a rumoured fee of €400,000 plus 15% interest.[5][6] He made his official debut on 12 July, starting in a 3–3 away draw at UTA Arad in the season opener, and six days later scored in a 3–1 home win over Argeș Pitești.[7]
Rădulescu scored two goals in 12 appearances before suffering a cruciate ligament injury in October 2025, which sidelined him for approximately half a year. He returned in the final match of the campaign, a goalless draw against Rapid București on 25 May 2026, as Craiova secured a domestic double consisting of the Liga I title and the Cupa României.
International career
In October 2024, Rădulescu was called up to the Romania national under-21 team for the final UEFA Euro 2025 qualifiers.[8] He debuted as a substitute and scored in a 6–2 win over Montenegro on 11 October, and played in the 3–1 victory against Switzerland four days later, helping Romania qualify for their fourth consecutive European Under-21 Championship.[9]
Style of play
Rădulescu is a dynamic left-footed footballer who operates as a winger, favoring the right flank to capitalize on his ability to cut inside. He stated that "the hardest football is simple football", reflecting his commitment to effective and straightforward play.[10]
Rădulescu cited Lionel Messi and compatriot Gheorghe Hagi as his role models growing up.[11]
Personal life
Rădulescu's elder brother is a tourist guide, and their father played football in the lower leagues of Prahova County.[8]
Career statistics
- As of match played 23 August 2026[12]
| Club | Season | League | Cupa României | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Petrolul Ploiești | 2021–22 | Liga II | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | Liga I | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | Liga I | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25 | Liga I | 35 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 5 | |||
| Total | 48 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 53 | 5 | ||||
| Gloria Buzău (loan) | 2023–24 | Liga II | 11 | 4 | — | — | — | 11 | 4 | |||
| Universitatea Craiova | 2025–26 | Liga I | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 2 | |
| 2026–27 | Liga I | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | ||
| CSM Slatina | 2026–27 | Liga II | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 73 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 11 | ||
Honours
Petrolul Ploiești
Universitatea Craiova
References
- ↑ ""Cel mai greu fotbal este fotbalul simplu!" – iată care este crezul mai mult decât interesant al debutantului în vârstă de 17 ani al FC Petrolul, ploieșteanul Mihnea Rădulescu" ["The most difficult football is the simple one!" – here is the more than interesting creed of FC Petrolul's 17-year-old debutant, the Ploiești native Mihnea Rădulescu] (in Romanian). Gazeta de Prahova. 14 April 2023.
- ↑ "Bun venit, Mihnea Rădulescu!" [Welcome, Mihnea Rădulescu!] (in Romanian). FC Gloria Buzău. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ↑ "Unirea Slobozia - Petrolul 1-2. Prahovenii au obținut prima victorie în deplasare din acest sezon" [Unirea Slobozia - Petrolul 1–2. The Prahova People got their first away win this season] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ↑ "Petrolul i-a stabilit prețul "perlei" Mihnea Rădulescu" [Petrolul has set the asking price for the "jewel" Mihnea Rădulescu] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ↑ "Mult succes, Mihnea Rădulescu!" [Good luck, Mihnea Rădulescu!] (in Romanian). FC Petrolul Ploieștu. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ↑ "EXCLUSIV / UPDATE Mihnea Rădulescu, prezentat la Universitatea Craiova! Cât plătesc oltenii și ce salariu va avea jucătorul în Bănie" [EXCLUSIVE / UPDATE Mihnea Rădulescu, unveiled by Universitatea Craiova! How much the Oltenia people are paying and what salary the player will have in Bănie] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ↑ "Universitatea Craiova - FC Argeș 3-1. Oltenii au obținut prima victorie din noul sezon" [Universitatea Craiova - FC Argeș 3–1. The Oltenia people obtained their first victory of the newest season] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- 1 2 "EXCLUSIV Viitoarea "perlă" a fotbalului românesc?! "Beleaua mică" de pe lista lui Dinamo și FCSB: "Tata mi-a atras atenția să nu păcălesc fotbalul și nu mi-a zis niciodată un "bravo"" + Gestul amuzant după ce a dat mâna cu Hagi" [EXCLUSIVE The future "jewel" of Romanian football?! "The little kid" on the list of Dinamo and FCSB: "Dad told me not to cheat at football and never congratulated me" + The funny gesture after shaking hands with Hagi] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ↑ "U21 spre EURO 2025 | CALIFICAREEEEE! România învinge Elveția și se califică la al patrulea turneu final consecutiv!" [U21 towards EURO 2025 | QUALIFICATION! Romania defeats Switzerland and qualifies for the fourth consecutive final tournament!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ↑ "„Cel mai greu fotbal este fotbalul simplu!" – iată care este crezul mai mult decât interesant al debutantului în vârstă de 17 ani al FC Petrolul, ploieșteanul Mihnea Rădulescu" ["The hardest football is simple football!" – this is the very interesting belief of the 17-year-old FC Petrolul debutant from Ploiești, Mihnea Rădulescu] (in Romanian). Gazeta de Prahova. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ↑ "„Messi și Hagi, idolii mei" Mihnea Rădulescu, pariul lui Pancu la naționala de tineret" ["Messi and Hagi, my idols" Mihnea Rădulescu, Pancu's bet for the youth national team] (in Romanian). Golazo.ro. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ↑ Mihnea Rădulescu at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ↑ "Universitatea Craiova, campioană după 35 de ani de așteptare". radioromania.ro (in Romanian). 17 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ "U Cluj - Universitatea Craiova 0-0 (5-6 d.l.d.). Oltenii au câștigat Cupa României la loviturile de departajare". digisport.ro (in Romanian). 13 May 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
External links
- Mihnea Rădulescu – Romanian league stats at LPF (in Romanian)
- 2005 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Ploiești
- Romanian men's footballers
- Men's association football wingers
- Liga I players
- Liga II players
- FC Petrolul Ploiești players
- FC Gloria Buzău players
- CS Universitatea Craiova players
- CSM Slatina (football) players
- Romania men's youth international footballers
- Romania men's under-21 international footballers
- 21st-century Romanian sportsmen