Ilie Dumitrescu found Desire Doue from FCSB, but highlighted the significant downside he has.
„Mister” referred to Octavian Popescu (22 years old), about whom he said is superior to Doue in technique, but does not have the physicality of the French star who scored two goals and provided a decisive pass in PSG – Inter 5-0, the Champions League final.
The former great footballer believes that physicality represents a downside for Romanian footballers.
"To reach the level of Desire Doue, first of all, there is selection. You start with physical construction. Physical construction, superior technique, the way he developed, and at 19 years old, you take him from the juniors and he copes with the intensity of the matches.
(Editor's note: In Romania) If you take a player from the juniors or youth now, even if they train with the first team, they are a puppy, a milk puppy that doesn't bite. There is no competition, no tone. It's not physical, that's where we suffer. There are many talented players, but in this physical area...
And here, there are many players who train. I saw two players from the national team, Răzvan Marin and Ianis Hagi, where I go to the gym. They were training. They train, they are professionals, but the physical structure that each individual has...
Let's take Mbappe, Dembele, Barcola, Desire Doue, look at the physical build. That's the difference. Let's not name names, it's not okay. Not... Tavi Popescu. Does Tavi Popescu have technical quality? I say he is much better than I don't know how many players. Even better than Desire Doue, but he doesn't have the physical strength, he can't push. He has technique, but it's not enough.
The three areas are crucial, the abdomen, upper body, and legs, that's where the explosion is. This boy (Desire Doue), at 19 years old, was bought for 50 million from Rennes.
In the academy, selection matters a lot. It's no use being technical if you're frail. In the seniors, they won't be able to do anything. That's the difference. Have you seen Lamine Yamal's physique?", Ilie Dumitrescu stated on Digi Sport.