Debts lead to Radu move

FC National Bucuresti may part company with coach Walter Zenga and have allowed leading scorer Sergiu Radu to leave due to mounting debts.

Radu departs
National missed out on European qualification this season after finishing eighth in the Romanian First Division and losing the Romanian Cup final to FC Dinamo Bucuresti. With the club now thought to be in financial difficulties, former Romanian Under-21 forward Radu has signed a two-year deal with French Ligue 1 newcomers Le Mans UC. No details of the transfer have been made public.

Buta returns
Radu has been National's leading scorer in both his seasons with the club, following a 2001 move from AFC Rapid Bucuresti and other players are likely to follow the 26-year-old out of the exit as the club seek to reduce their outgoing costs. Right-back Cornel Buta has already returned to Rapid after a loan spell which National have been unable to extend.

Zenga doubt
Meanwhile, Zenga's €128,000 one-year contract has now expired, and the sponsor that covered that deal has now withdrawn funds from the club. General manager, Cosmin Olaroiu, said after a meeting with Zenga: "We explained to him that we can not afford to pay him the salary for a further one-year contract. We do not know what will happen."

'I felt at home'
The club are hoping to find another sponsor to allow them to keep the Italian in charge. Meanwhile, Zenga, who is currently studying at Italy's prestigious Coverciano coach training school, said: "I felt at home in Romania and I never felt that I was a foreigner, but I was very shocked by a lot of what happens off the pitch."