Valentin Mihăilă Explained

Valentin Mihăilă
Full Name:Valentin Mihai Mihăilă
Birth Date:2 February 2000[1]
Birth Place:Târgoviște, Romania
Height:1.77 m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Parma
Clubnumber:28
Youthyears1:2008–2010
Youthclubs1:Gaz Metan Finta
Youthyears2:2010–2012
Youthclubs2:Astra Ploiești
Youthyears3:2012–2014
Youthclubs3:CS Casa Bogdan
Youthyears4:2014–2017
Youthclubs4:Universitatea Craiova
Years1:2017–2020
Clubs1:Universitatea Craiova
Caps1:62
Goals1:8
Years2:2020–
Clubs2:Parma
Caps2:76
Goals2:13
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Atalanta (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2017–2018
Nationalteam1:Romania U18
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018
Nationalteam2:Romania U19
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:6
Nationalyears3:2019–2020
Nationalteam3:Romania U21
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:5
Nationalyears4:2021–
Nationalteam4:Romania
Nationalcaps4:25
Nationalgoals4:4
Club-Update:9 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:2 July 2024

Valentin Mihai Mihăilă (in Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan pronounced as /valenˈtin miˈhaj mihəˈilə/; born 2 February 2000) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Serie A club Parma and the Romania national team.

He began his professional career at Universitatea Craiova in 2017, appearing in over 60 matches in the Liga I before signing for Italian team Parma three years later.

After representing Romania at under-18, under-19, and under-21 levels, Mihăilă recorded his full debut in a 3–2 win over North Macedonia in March 2021. He competed for the country in the UEFA Euro 2024, where they won their group and reached the round of 16.

Club career

Universitatea Craiova

Mihăilă made his senior debut for Universitatea Craiova on 24 October 2017, aged 17, in a 2–0 away victory over Sepsi OSK counting for the Cupa României.[2] He did not appear in any other match for the Alb-albaștrii during that season, but on 9 August 2018 started in a 3–1 away defeat to RB Leipzig in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.[3] His debut in the Liga I came in a 1–0 loss on 29 July 2018, also against Sepsi OSK.

Mihăilă began to play frequently and on 19 April 2019 recorded his first league goal—and the only of the match—in an away fixture with Astra Giurgiu,[4] one of his former youth clubs.[5] He amassed 32 matches all competitions comprised in the 2018–19 campaign, and at the end of the year manager Victor Pițurcă confirmed that Craiova rejected a 5 million bid for the youngster from fellow league team FCSB.[6] During his third season in Oltenia, Mihăilă totalled nine goals and came close to claiming the national championship; his side however lost the final game of the competition 3–1 to title contenders and eventual champions CFR Cluj, on 3 August 2020.[7]

Parma

On 5 October 2020, Italian team Parma announced the signing of Mihăilă on a five-year contract, with "the Yellow and Blues" reportedly paying a transfer fee of €8.5 million for the player.[8] [9] This made him the third-most expensive sale of the Romanian league championship at the time, slightly surpassing his former Craiova teammate Alexandru Mitriță on that place.[10] After recovering from athletic pubalgia,[11] Mihăilă finally made his debut for Parma on 3 January 2021 by coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 Serie A loss to Torino.[12]

Mihăilă was a starter for the first time on 21 January, and scored the equaliser in an eventual 2–1 defeat to Lazio in the Coppa Italia's round of 16.[13] He registered his first league goal on 7 March, in a 3–3 away draw with Fiorentina in which he also assisted Jasmin Kurtić.[14] The following fixture, compatriot Dennis Man provided the pass from which Mihăilă opened the scoring in a 2–0 defeat of Roma.[15] He ended the league season with three goals from 16 appearances, as the club got relegated to the Serie B.[16]

On 31 January 2022, Mihăilă joined Serie A club Atalanta on a five-month loan with an option to buy.[17] He did not impress during his stint in Bergamo, featuring in only seven matches without scoring as his full transfer clause was not activated. After returning to Parma, Mihăilă netted a free kick in the 2–2 Serie B opening draw with Bari on 12 August.[18]

International career

Youth

Mihăilă attracted significant media attention after contributing to Romania national under-21 team's victory in a UEFA Euro 2021 qualifier against Finland on 14 November 2019, as he scored a hat-trick and provoked an own goal.[19]

Senior

In March 2021, Mihăilă was called up for the first time to the Romania senior team by coach Mirel Rădoi for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against North Macedonia, Germany, and Armenia. On the 25th that month, he replaced injured Florinel Coman in the first half of the former game and netted in the 3–2 win at the Arena Națională in Bucharest.[20]

On 19 June 2023, Mihăilă came on in the second half of a Euro 2024 qualifier against Switzerland and scored a late double to earn his team a 2–2 draw.[21] He was then meant to join up with the under-21 team for the 2023 European Championship, but was ruled out after suffering an injury in the latter game.[22]

Romania secured their spot in the Euro 2024 by finishing first in their group, and on 7 June 2024 Mihăilă was selected as part of the final squad.[23] He made three appearances, only starting in the 0–2 loss to Belgium on 22 June, as his country won its group before being eliminated by the Netherlands in the round of 16.[24]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Universitatea Craiova2017–18Liga I00100010
2018–19Liga I291201000321
2019–20Liga I2873210329
2020–21Liga I50001060
Total6286230007110
Parma2020–21Serie A16311174
2021–22Serie B13200132
2022–23Serie B1522120193
2023–24Serie B32630356
Total761362208415
Atalanta (loan)2021–22Serie A50002070
Career total14321124502016225

International

[25]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania202151
202250
202373
202480
Total254

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mihăilă goal.[25]

List of international goals scored by Valentin Mihăilă
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
125 March 2021 Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania 2–0 3–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
219 June 2023 Swissporarena, Lucerne, Switzerland 1–2 2–2 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
32–2
412 September 2023 Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania 2–0 2–0

Honours

Universitatea Craiova

2017–18

Parma

2023–24

Notes and References

  1. Web site: La mulți ani, Valentin Mihăilă! #18. Happy birthday, Valentin Mihăilă! #18. CS Universitatea Craiova. ro. 2 February 2018.
  2. Web site: Ascensiunea pepinierei: a debutat și Mihăilă în tricoul Științei!. The ascent of our talent farm: Mihăilă also made his debut in the jersey of "Știința". CS Universitatea Craiova. ro. 25 October 2017. 22 January 2021.
  3. Web site: RB Leipzig - Universitatea Craiova live - 9 August 2018 - Eurosport. Eurosport. 9 August 2018. 23 April 2021.
  4. Web site: Valentin Mihăilă, la primul gol pentru Craiova. Cum a marcat noua "speranță" din Bănie la primul meci cu Papură pe bancă. Valentin Mihăilă, the first goal for Craiova. How the new "jewel" from Bănie scored in the first match with Papură on the bench. Digi Sport. ro. 19 April 2019. 23 April 2021.
  5. Web site: Cum a ajuns Valentin Mihăilă noua "perlă" a Craiovei: Astra a renunţat gratis la el! "Va fi cel mai scump transfer din fotbalul românesc!". EXCLUSIV. How Valentin Mihăilă became the new "jewel" of Craiova: Astra gave him away for free! "It will be the most expensive transfer in Romanian football!". EXCLUSIVE. Fanatik.ro. ro. 14 November 2019. 3 November 2021.
  6. Web site: Gigi Becali nu a jucat la derută, Victor Pițurcă a confirmat oferta de 5 milioane de euro pentru Mihăilă. "Nu pleacă nici pentru 10 milioane". Gigi Becali did not bluff, Victor Pițurcă confirmed the 5 million euros offer for Mihăilă. "He is not leaving, not even for 10 million". Digi Sport. ro. 17 December 2019.
  7. Web site: Universitatea Craiova – CFR Cluj 1-3. Veni, Vidi, Vinicius. Ardelenii revin spectaculos, câștigă al treilea titlu consecutiv și se pregătesc de preliminariile Champions League. Universitatea Craiova – CFR Cluj 1-3. Veni, Vidi, Vinícius. Ardelenii turn the game around in a spectacular manner, win their third consecutive title and prepare for the Champions League qualifiers. ProSport. ro. 3 August 2020. 23 April 2021.
  8. Web site: Official: Mihaila to Parma. Football Italia. 5 October 2020. 5 October 2020.
  9. Web site: UPDATE Valentin Mihăilă a semnat pe 5 ani cu Parma » Dezvăluiri din culise: impresarul român care a realizat transferul de 8,5 milioane de euro. UPDATE Valentin Mihăilă signed a 5-year contract with Parma » From behind the curtains: the Romanian agent who made the 8.5 million euros transfer possible. Gazeta Sporturilor. Remus. Răureanu. ro. 4 October 2020. 5 October 2020.
  10. Web site: Mitrita, in topul celor mai scumpi jucatori din istoria Ligii 1: Iata cati bani a incasat Craiova. Mitriță, at the top of the most expensive players in the history of Liga 1: The sum earned by Craiova. Ziare.com. ro. 4 February 2019. 16 March 2021.
  11. Web site: "Craiova nu a păcălit Parma, totul a fost la vedere!". Omul care l-a descoperit pe Mihăilă iese în față. "Craiova did not fool Parma, everything was crystal clear!" The man who discovered Mihăilă steps out. Digi Sport. ro. 12 November 2020. 16 March 2020.
  12. Web site: Valentin Mihăilă a debutat în Serie A! Primele imagini cu atacantul român în tricoul Parmei pe teren. Echipa românului, învinsă. Valentin Mihăilă made his debut in the Serie A! The first images with the Romanian forward on the field in Parma's shirt. The Romanian's team, defeated. Telekom Sport. ro. 3 January 2021. 22 January 2021.
  13. Web site: Lazio ai quarti contro l'Atalanta: un autogol al 90' condanna il Parma. Lazio in the quarter-finals against Atalanta: a 90th-minute own goal condemns Parma. La Gazzetta dello Sport. Nicola. Berardino. it. 21 January 2021. 22 January 2021.
  14. Web site: Ce au remarcat italienii după primul gol reuşit de Mihăilă în Serie A şi adevăratul motiv pentru care a fost rezervă. What did the Italians observe after Mihăilă's first scored goal in Serie A and the true reason he was a substitute. Digi Sport. ro. 8 March 2021. 16 March 2020.
  15. Web site: Finalmente! Il Parma c'è: è vivo per la corsa salvezza, 2-0 alla Roma. Hernani: "Eravamo convinti di farcela: ci crediamo". Finally! Parma is there: it is alive and in the race to save itself, 2–0 over Roma. Hernani: "We were convinced we could do it: we believe in it". Gazzetta di Parma. Italian. 14 March 2021. 16 March 2021.
  16. Web site: Parma, retrogradată matematic în Serie B! Veste grea pentru Dennis Man și Valentin Mihăilă. Parma, mathematically relegated to Serie B! Difficult news for Dennis Man and Valentin Mihăilă. Eurosport România. ro. 3 May 2021. 26 October 2021.
  17. Web site: WELCOME MIHAILA!. Atalanta B.C.. 31 January 2022. 31 January 2022.
  18. Web site: FOTO Românii au făcut show în primul meci al sezonului din Serie B! Dennis Man și Valentin Mihăilă, goluri în Parma - Bari. PHOTO The Romanians put on a show in the first match of the Serie B season! Dennis Man and Valentin Mihăila, goals in Parma - Bari. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 12 August 2022. 13 August 2022.
  19. Web site: Mihăilă, de neoprit! Starul Craiovei a dat patru goluri cu Finlanda. Mihăilă, unstoppable! The Craiova star scored four goals against Finland. Realitatea Sportivă. ro. 14 November 2019.
  20. Web site: Valentin Mihăilă, super-gol marcat la debut pentru România! Macedonenii n-au scăpat de ce s-au temut. Valentin Mihăilă, super goal scored at the debut for Romania! The Macedonians could not escape from what they feared. Digi Sport. ro. 25 March 2021. 23 April 2021.
  21. Web site: Valentin Mihăilă plătește scump "dubla" de poveste din Elveția! Ce a pățit după golul doi. Mihăilă pays a heavy price after the amazing "double" in Switzerland! What happened after the second goal. Digi Sport. ro. 19 June 2023. 20 June 2023.
  22. Web site: Ce spune Emil Săndoi despre debutul la EURO 2023, după ce Mihăilă și Grameni s-au accidentat: "Avem și noi o experiență". What does Emil Săndoi say after Mihăilă and Grameni got injured: "We also have experience". Digi Sport. ro. 20 June 2023. 20 June 2023.
  23. Web site: Lotul României pentru EURO 2024. Romania's squad for EURO 2024. Romanian Football Federation. ro. 7 June 2024. 5 July 2024.
  24. Web site: Romania 0–3 Netherlands: Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo score as Dutch reach quarters. BBC. 2 July 2024. 8 July 2024.
  25. Web site: Valentin Mihăilă. EU-Football.info. 26 March 2021.