Cristian Muscalu

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Cristian Muscalu

| image =

| fullname = Cristian Valentin Muscalu

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|10|3|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bucharest, Romania

| height = {{height|m=1.81}}

| position = Left winger / Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1995–2003 |youthclubs1 = Steaua București

| youthyears2 = 2004–2005 |youthclubs2 = Şcoala de Fotbal Gică Popescu

| youthyears3 = 2005–2006 |youthclubs3 = CSŞ Nucet

| youthyears4 = 2006–2007 |youthclubs4 = FC Köln

| years1 = 2007 |clubs1 = Jiul Petroșani |caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2008 |clubs2 = Sint-Truidense |caps2 = 1 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2009 |clubs3 = Slavija Sarajevo |caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2009–2010 |clubs4 = FK Baku |caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2010 |clubs5 = → Chernomorets Burgas (loan) |caps5 = 8 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2010 |clubs6 = Tur Turek |caps6 = 2 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2011 |clubs7 = Borac Čačak |caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2011–2012 |clubs8 = Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ |caps8 = 15 | goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2013 |clubs9 = Voždovac |caps9 = 1 | goals9 = 0

| years10= 2014 |clubs10 = Beira-Mar |caps10= 4 | goals10= 0

| years11= 2014–2015 |clubs11 = Caransebeș |caps11= 0 | goals11= 0

| years12= 2015–2016 |clubs12 = Metalul Frăsinet |caps12= | goals12=

| years13= 2016–2017 |clubs13 = Poole Town |caps13= 2 | goals13= 0

| years14= 2017 |clubs14 = Rapid București |caps14= 1 | goals14= 0

| nationalyears1 = 2008 |nationalteam1 = Romania U19

| nationalcaps1 = 4 |nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Cristian Valentin Muscalu (born 3 October 1989) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Muscalu started his youth career at Steaua spending eight years, before separating from the club, he joined Gică Popescu's football academy playing there for a year, as well for CSŞ Nucet.{{cite web|url=http://asport.ro/international,stranieri,la-20-de-ani-a-jucat-in-cinci-campionate-diferite-muscalu-globetrotterul-fotbalului-romanesc,116776|title=La 20 de ani a jucat în cinci campionate diferite! Muscalu, globetrotterul fotbalului românesc|publisher=asport.ro|access-date=5 May 2010|language=Romanian}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} During 2006 he was noticed by youth coach Marcel Răducanu who sees him linked with a move to 1. FC Köln. During his early career, Muscalu was for a few weeks on trial at Osasuna, Hertha Berlin and TSV 1860 Munich.{{cite web| url = http://www.diariodenavarra.es/20080110/deportes/muscalu-enganado-representante.html?not=2008011002415817&dia=20080110&seccion=deportes&seccion2=osasunaFutbol| title = Muscalu, "engañado " por su representante| publisher = diariodenavarra.es| language = Spanish| access-date = 10 January 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110930202459/http://www.diariodenavarra.es/20080110/deportes/muscalu-enganado-representante.html?not=2008011002415817&dia=20080110&seccion=deportes&seccion2=osasunaFutbol| archive-date = 30 September 2011| url-status = dead}}{{cite web | url = http://www.bz-berlin.de/sport/hertha-bsc/kommt-muscalu-zu-hertha-article450143.html | title = Kommt Muscalu zu Hertha?| date = 7 May 2009| publisher = bz-berlin.de| language = German | access-date=7 May 2009}}{{cite web | url = http://www.fussball-vorort.de/sport/tsv-1860/meta-neuer-rumaene-loewen-588635.html | title = Neuer Rumäne für Lienen?| publisher = fussball-vorort.de| language = German | access-date=12 January 2010}}

Muscalu started as senior playing the first half of the 2007–08 season with Romanian second-level side CSM Jiul Petroșani. During winter break he moved to Belgium and signed with Sint-Truidense.[https://www.foradejogo.net/player.php?player=198910030006 Muscalu] at foradejogo.net He made his official debut for Sint-Truidense on 12 April 2008 in the Belgian Pro League in a 2–0 loss to Westerlo. However, a year later he was transferred to Bosnia and Herzegovina's FK Slavija to gain more experience, where he won a national cup. On 13 July 2009, he signed for FK Baku in Azerbaijan. After not having many chances, he played the last six months of that season loaned out to Chernomorets Burgas playing in the Bulgarian First League.{{cite web|author=Budakov, Valentin|publisher=7sport.net|script-title=bg:"Черноморец" маха чужденци. Пламен Крумов и Николай Кръстев също напускат отбора|url=http://www.7sport.net/archive7ds/2010/05/13/fb_a_grupa/d5742_6.htm|date=2010-05-13|access-date=2015-08-27|language=Bulgarian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203656/http://www.7sport.net/archive7ds/2010/05/13/fb_a_grupa/d5742_6.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=usurped}} After summer 2010, Muscalu had a short spell with Polish third-tier club Tur Turek which lasted until October.{{cite web | url = http://www.mksturturek.pl/index.php?function=show_all&no=1663 | title = Muscalu nie jest już piłkarzem Tur Turek | publisher = mksturturek.pl | language = Polish | access-date = 12 October 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120325034004/http://www.mksturturek.pl/index.php?function=show_all&no=1663 | archive-date = 25 March 2012}} Before joining with Turek, he was also on trial with Lech Poznań{{cite web| url = http://www.sports.pl/Pilka-nozna/Cristian-Muscalu-na-testach-w-Lechu,artykul,82529,1,3.html| title = Cristian Muscalu na testach w Lechu| publisher = sports.pl| language = Polish| access-date = 28 July 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100808085721/http://www.sports.pl/Pilka-nozna/Cristian-Muscalu-na-testach-w-Lechu,artykul,82529,1,3.html| archive-date = 8 August 2010| url-status = dead}} and Croatian club Istra 1961.{{cite web | url = http://nkistra1961.hr/index.php/site/more/valentin-muscalu-na-probi-u-istri-1961/ | title = Cristian Muscalu na probi u Istri 1961 | publisher = nkistra1961.hr | language = Croatian | access-date = 25 August 2010 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120713035609/http://nkistra1961.hr/index.php/site/more/valentin-muscalu-na-probi-u-istri-1961/ | archive-date = 13 July 2012 | url-status = dead}}

In early 2011, he joined on a free transfer Serbian side FK Borac Čačak, but didn't play any game.{{cite web | url = http://www.90minut.pl/news/145/news1452183-Cristian-Muscalu-odchodzi-do-FK-Borac.html | title = Cristian Muscalu odchodzi do FK Borac| publisher = 90minut.pl |language = Polish | access-date=20 January 2011}} In the summer of 2011, he was close to sign for Swiss club SC Kriens however, the contract did not materialize.{{cite web| url = http://www.sck.ch/reloaded/index.php?limitstart=8| title = News Sportclub Kriens| publisher = sck.ch| language = German| access-date = 13 July 2011| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110909051719/http://sck.ch/reloaded/index.php?limitstart=8| archive-date = 9 September 2011}} On July, Muscalu returned to his home country to play in Liga I with newly promoted team Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ.{{cite web | url = http://www.digisport.ro/de-la-tur-turek-la-cehlaul/ | title = De la Tur Turek, la Ceahlăul | publisher = digisport.ro | language = Romanian | access-date = 26 July 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120326130836/http://www.digisport.ro/de-la-tur-turek-la-cehlaul/ | archive-date = 26 March 2012}}

He was regarded as a good talent of Romania, but he was affected by numerous injuries.

In the summer 2013, Cristian Muscalu joined newly promoted Serbian SuperLiga side FK Voždovac.[http://www.zurnal.rs/2013/08/21/rumun-muskalu-u-vozdovcu/index.html?lang=lat Rumun Muskalu u Voždovcu] at Sportski žurnal, 21-8-2013 {{in lang|sr}} In February 2014, Muscalu signed with Beira-Mar of Portugal.

In summer 2014 Muscalu returned to Romania and has played with lower-league sides FC Caransebeș and Metalul Frăsinet.