I have talked and wrote many times about Rareș Ilie long before the Romanian “press” – you’ll find later on that the brackets are really needed – heard of him, let alone see his qualities. Most of them, anyway, didn’t see any quality in this guy. But Nice, number 5 in 2021-2022 Ligue 1 saw that. Lucien Favre brought the young midfielder, Rapid no. 10, on board for 5 million EUR. The “specialists” said he cost around half in fact and that he will be loaned to Lausanne, in the second tier of Swiss football. Now, leaving alone the amount, to be a French top club and to buy a very promising youngster to just loan him in the second division of Switzerland is, indeed, a thing that only Romanian journalists can… “think”. They were so close, that Rareș Ilie not only played in friendlies against Rome and Torino – where he provided an assist for the only goal – but did he play also in the first game day of Ligue 1, 30 minutes, against Toulouse.

Rareș Ilie is a first hand intelligent guy!

For many, it doesn’t look like too much. Indeed, but it is! To be honest, I never thought Rareș Ilie will integrate so quickly and so well at Nice! But he did and now the interesting part of the article comes into place: the full presentation, as Ilie is not an ordinary football player given the times. Not an ordinary one at least for Romania! Leave alone his native qualities, Rareș proves to be a first hand intelligent guy, if you have the patience to analyze his speech and to understand the way he thinks, what kind of mentality does he have. These are not just words, but powerful back up to the foundation of his career. Because, in the end, physical qualities can be only temporary. Luckily, being so young – 19 years old – helps even more. And when it comes to ball skills, speed and well-built physic, Ilie have them all.

Rareș Ilie, no. 10 at Rapid – only 18 years old!

Maybe this is why he made his senior debut for Rapid at just 17 years and little by little he became a bedrock in the first eleven and not only because of the age. I mean, at first, he made rare appearances in the second division, but once promotion was achieved, not only that Rareș imposed himself in the starting eleven, but also took the no. 10 jersey! And to do this at Rapid, well, guys, you need to have both a high self esteem and courage, but also to inspire others that you are the right guy. Rareș did it at only 18 years, for Christ sake!!! I mean you cannot do that just so, because Rapid, as Dugandzic said at his arrival, really is the biggest club in Romanian football in terms of popularity, reach and atmosphere. Therefore, the biggest club that exists.

Promising start, great performance

Now, Rareș Ilie played better from one game to another and decided a couple of them. Meanwhile, in the national teams he didn’t play as he would deserve, at least in U21, because there it is mandatory to have boys from Farul, fcs, Craiova, who need to be transfer in obscure leagues, just to come back afterwards as saviors… Anyway, not important. The point is that Rareș Ilie looks like having the capabilities to make a solid impression at Nice, in one of the most powerful championships in the world – if not the most powerful! He did have a great start, with solid performance in friendlies against AS Rome and AC Torino, big Italian clubs and also met expectations in the Ligue 1 debut, against Toulouse.

The future in the hands of Rareș Ilie

I am not sure yet if Rareș Ilie will make it in the first eleven of Nice soon, but I think he has everything needed to succeed at top level. I saw him from the beginning what type of material he is made of and when I heard him talking, I was sure he made the best decision in playing for Rapid. If we would do a projection based on the qualities he has and based on the path opened in his front now it is expected that Rareș will become one of the best Romanian footballers of all time, at least in terms of results. If he will stay injuries-free and if he will keep his focus on what should be done, the former Rapid no. 10 can use Nice only as another trampoline in his career.

And the press…

Oh, and I forgot… the brackets from my introduction… 🙂 The press, considering that they stated a player like Rareș Ilie would be bought by a Ligue 1 team to be loaned to a second tier squad in Switzerland, but he made his debut, in the end, in Ligue 1, proves exactly what level it has in Romania. And I think is the lowest level from whole Europe, or at least from the significant sport-countries. It was a small blooper, but one that shows what kind of people are writing about sports in Romania. No other words needed, let us continue monitor this youngster, because I think his road is just opening and it will be an amazing one.

Photo source: digisport.ro