Moldova call-up: Fratea fulfills national team dream
Moldovan footballer Vladimir Fratea has received his first call-up to the senior national squad, fulfilling a long-held ambition after a career spanning four countries.
The Zimbru Chișinău player's journey has taken him from Chișinău to Germany, Georgia, and Cyprus.
"I was expecting the call-up, but I focused on club duty first. We have important matches and the league is long. I was, however, eagerly awaiting the news and was happy to receive it," Fratea said. "Reaching the national team has been my goal since childhood. I am currently in peak form, similar to my time with the youth team at FC Köln. I've now fully recovered and gained confidence."
Fratea started his career at Dacia-Buiucani. He credits his father, brother, and Lionel Messi with inspiring him to choose "the beautiful game."
"My father first took my brother to football; I watched them and told myself I wanted to train and play too. The passion for the game was gifted by my father. He gave me my first ball, my first Messi jersey, and told me to go play football. Messi is my idol. He's the first player who made me start watching football, and I doubt there will ever be another player quite like him," Fratea revealed.
After a spell at Juniorul București, Fratea made the move to German club FC Köln, where he played for the U-17, U-19, and U-23 sides.
"The level of competition at Köln was exceptionally high. I played against teams like Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Everyone would want to play at such a level. To get there, you have to work every single day," he noted.
Following a successful spell at Köln, Fratea decided to make the move to senior football, in a surprising departure from Germany. He went on to play for Gagra in Georgia and a club in Cyprus before returning to Moldova.
"I wanted to return to the Superliga in Moldova for the opportunity to play in the European Cups. My former coach and now my agent, Ion Testemițanu, proposed I join Zimbru, the biggest club in the Republic of Moldova. He told me I had an opportunity not everyone gets. I didn't hesitate and agreed to come."
It was an inspired decision. Fratea is currently in the best period of his career, having made his European debut with Zimbru. He is an undisputed starter in the domestic league, scoring four goals this season. His form has caught the attention of national selectors, earning him a spot in the squad ahead of this week's friendly against Romania.
"No one knows what tomorrow will bring, but as any attacking player, I want to help the team. To make people happy. To get positive results. For an attacking footballer, to score, to provide assists is the most wonderful thing for the country's team," Vladimir Fratea concluded.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
