Valentin Mihăilă

Valentin Mihai Mihăilă (Romanian pronunciation: [valenˈtin miˈhaj mihəˈilə]; born 2 February 2000) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Serie B club Parma and the Romania national team.

Valentin Mihăilă
Personal information
Full name Valentin Mihai Mihăilă
Date of birth (2000-02-02) 2 February 2000[1]
Place of birth Târgoviște, Romania
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Parma
Number 28
Youth career
2008–2010 Gaz Metan Finta
2010–2012 Astra Ploiești
2012–2014 CS Casa Bogdan
2014–2018 Universitatea Craiova
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Universitatea Craiova 62 (8)
2020– Parma 54 (7)
2022 → Atalanta (loan) 5 (0)
International career‡
2017–2018 Romania U18 5 (0)
2018 Romania U19 6 (6)
2019–2020 Romania U21 6 (5)
2021– Romania 16 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2023

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.

Internationally, Mihăilă recorded his full debut for Romania in a 3–2 win over North Macedonia in March 2021. He previously represented the nation at under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels.

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 1–3 away defeat to RB Leipzig in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.[3] His debut in the Liga I came in a 0–1 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 1–3 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 0–3 Serie A loss to Torino.[12]

Mihăilă was a starter for the first time on 21 January, and managed to score the equaliser in an eventual 1–2 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

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]

In March 2021, he 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, Mihăilă 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 squad for the 2023 European Championship, but was ruled out after suffering an injury in the latter game.[22]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 7 October 2023[23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental[lower-alpha 1] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Universitatea Craiova 2017–18 Liga I 001000—10
2018–19 Liga I 291201000321
2019–20 Liga I 2873210—329
2020–21 Liga I 500010—60
Total 6286230007110
Parma 2020–21 Serie A 16311——174
2021–22 Serie B 13200——132
2022–23 Serie B 17221—2[lower-alpha 2]0213
2023–24 Serie B 8010——90
Total 54742—20609
Atalanta (loan) 2021–22 Serie A 500020—70
Career total 12115104502013819
  1. All appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in Serie B – Promotion play-offs

International
As of match played 15 October 2023[24]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania 202151
202250
202363
Total164
Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mihăilă goal.[24]
List of international goals scored by Valentin Mihăilă
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 25 March 2021Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania North Macedonia2–03–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 19 June 2023Swissporarena, Lucerne, Switzerland  Switzerland1–22–2UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
3 2–2
4 12 September 2023Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania Kosovo2–02–0

Honours

Universitatea Craiova[23]

References
  1. "La mulți ani, Valentin Mihăilă! #18" [Happy birthday, Valentin Mihăilă! #18] (in Romanian). CS Universitatea Craiova. 2 February 2018.
  2. "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"] (in Romanian). CS Universitatea Craiova. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  3. "RB Leipzig - Universitatea Craiova live - 9 August 2018 - Eurosport". Eurosport. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  4. "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] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  5. "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] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  6. "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"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 17 December 2019.
  7. "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] (in Romanian). ProSport. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. "Official: Mihaila to Parma". Football Italia. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  9. Răureanu, Remus (4 October 2020). "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 (in Romanian). Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  10. "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] (in Romanian). Ziare.com. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  11. ""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] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  12. "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] (in Romanian). Telekom Sport. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  13. Berardino, Nicola (21 January 2021). "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 (in Italian). Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  14. "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] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  15. "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 (in Italian). 14 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  16. "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] (in Romanian). Eurosport România. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  17. "WELCOME MIHAILA!". Atalanta B.C. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  18. "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 (in Romanian). 12 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  19. "Mihăilă, de neoprit! Starul Craiovei a dat patru goluri cu Finlanda" [Mihăilă, unstoppable! The Craiova star scored four goals against Finland] (in Romanian). Realitatea Sportivă. 14 November 2019.
  20. "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] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  21. "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] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  22. "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"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  23. Valentin Mihăilă at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  24. "Valentin Mihăilă". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
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