Constantin Budescu

On the 26th that month, he chose to stay once again with Astra, joining on a one-and-a-half-year contract.

On 16 February, Budescu netted a goal against Genk in a 2–2 Europa League round of 32 home draw.

Constantin Valentin Budescu (born 19 February 1989) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a forward for Liga I club Farul Constanța.

In 2007, Budescu made his debut in the Liga II for Petrolul Ploiești while still a junior player.

He gradually imposed himself as a regular first-team member, which caught the eye of Rapid București, Politehnica Timișoara and FC Brașov.

In 2009, following the transfer of Laurențiu Marinescu to Unirea Urziceni, Budescu took over his number 10 jersey.

Budescu began his senior career at Petrolul Ploiești, amassing over 150 appearances throughout the course of six seasons before transferring to rival team Astra Ploiești in 2011.

With the latter side, which relocated to Giurgiu, he won one Liga I, one Cupa României and one Supercupa României.

In the summer of 2011, Budescu signed a contract with cross-town rivals Astra Ploiești, later relocated and renamed Astra Giurgiu.

On 21 July 2013, he scored his first hat-trick in the Liga I, in a 4–0 away win against Viitorul Constanța.

Four days later, during their first ever appearance in the UEFA Europa League, he netted twice in a 2–1 success at Omonia as his team played 30 minutes with one player less and qualified to the third round; due to his exploits, he was dubbed the "Hero of Nicosia".

Budescu played an unofficial match for Romania B in a 1–4 friendly defeat against Poland, in February 2013.

On 21 August 2014, Budescu converted a penalty against French side Lyon in the first leg of the Europa League play-off (2–1 away win, qualification on the away goals rule).

On 6 August of the following year, in the same competition but in the third qualifying round, his second leg brace helped defeat West Ham United 2–1 at home and 4–3 on aggregate.

Budescu registered his debut for the Romania national team in 2015, at age 26.

Since first leaving Astra in 2016, he has had multiple brief spells, of which three abroad with clubs in China and Saudi Arabia.

In January 2016, Astra rejected an offer from FC Steaua București for Budescu.

The following month, he signed a three-year contract with China League One club Dalian Yifang for an undisclosed fee, with a salary worth €3 million plus €500,000 upon signature.

Budescu was loaned to his previous club Astra Giurgiu in August 2016, before being released by the Asians the following January.

His debut for the full side was made two years later, as he came on as a 78th-minute substitute in a 0–0 away draw against Hungary for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers.

In 2017, he was awarded the Romanian Footballer of the Year trophy by the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper.

Budescu was born in Manasia, a commune near Urziceni, Ialomița County.

At the age of 12, with his first team Rapid Sălciile, he once scored "13 goals in one match".

On 10 June 2017, FCSB activated Budescu's €750,000 release clause.

He subsequently signed a four-year deal with the club, being assigned the number 11 shirt.

Budescu scored on his debut on 16 July, in a 2–1 home victory against Voluntari.

He again found the net nine days later, converting a free kick in 2–2 home draw with Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League third qualifying round.

On 20 December, Budescu was announced by the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper as the winner of the 2017 Romanian Footballer of the Year award.

On 15 February 2018, he provided an assist as Harlem Gnohéré scored the only goal of a Europa League round of 32 first leg match with Lazio.

On 28 June 2018, Budescu agreed to a three-year deal with Saudi Professional League team Al-Shabab for a reported transfer fee of €2.5 million, rejoining his former Astra Giurgiu head coach Marius Șumudică.

On 19 August 2019, Astra Giurgiu owner Ioan Niculae confirmed that Budescu returned for a fourth stint at the club after agreeing to a two-year contract.

On 8 February 2021, he signed for Saudi Professional League team Damac.

After only twelve games during the remainder of the 2020–21 season, Budescu returned to Romania with FCSB.

He left them on 4 January 2022 on a mutual agreement, after only scoring once and being criticised by owner Gigi Becali for his performances.

Fifteen days later, he put pen to paper on a contract with Voluntari.

On 2 August 2022, Budescu returned to his boyhood club Petrolul Ploiești, which had recently promoted back to the Liga I. He signed a two-year deal and was given the number 10 shirt.

After recovering from a long-term injury, Budescu registered his first appearance and goal in the top flight for Petrolul on 24 October, converting a penalty in a 2–0 home win over Argeș Pitești.

On 2 August 2023, he left the team on a mutual agreement, two days after publicly stating that he is not content with his playing time.

On 4 August 2023, Budescu agreed to a deal with defending champions Farul Constanța.

Six days later, he scored and provided an assist in a 3–0 home victory against Estonian side Flora in the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.