Chelsea Icon's Health Mystery Solved
Former Chelsea defender and manager Dan Petrescu has been confirmed to be in good health and does not have cancer, directly contradicting alarming reports that had circulated in his native Romania. The 58-year-old football legend had been the subject of intense speculation about his wellbeing after a senior football official claimed he was undergoing chemotherapy.
Confusion and Concern Over Petrescu's Condition
The situation began when Gino Iorgulescu, the president of the Romanian Football League, told local media that Petrescu was receiving treatment for a serious illness. "He is undergoing chemotherapy," Iorgulescu stated, adding that the news made his "skin crawl". This followed Petrescu's decision to step down as head coach of CFR Cluj four months ago, which was his fourth spell in charge of the club.
Reports in Romania had suggested Petrescu had lost a significant amount of weight, with images and videos appearing to show him looking frail while walking in a park. Belgian publication Cancan went so far as to claim the former defender was unrecognisable, noting that his daughters had flown to Romania to be with him.
Official Clarification Puts Rumours to Rest
The speculation was definitively addressed on Saturday, when the BBC reported that Petrescu does not have cancer and is well. BBC Sport journalist Nizaar Kinsella took to social media platform X to clarify, writing: "Just a note to say all is okay with former Chelsea legend Dan Petrescu and he doesn't have cancer (following reports)."
Earlier, Cristian Balaj, a former president of CFR Cluj, had hinted that Petrescu was exploring alternative treatments, mentioning that "at one point he was being treated with Chinese medicine". Balaj emphasised that Petrescu's condition was evolving for the better and that he was on a path to recovery in Cluj.
Petrescu, who celebrated his 58th birthday recently, is a beloved figure at Stamford Bridge. He joined Chelsea from Sheffield Wednesday in November 1995 and spent four-and-a-half years with the club. During his 208 appearances for the Blues, he scored 23 goals and provided 20 assists, winning the League Cup, two FA Cups, and the UEFA Super Cup.
After leaving Chelsea in 2000 for Bradford City and later playing for Southampton and FC National, Petrescu moved into management. He enjoyed significant success with CFR Cluj, leading them to four league titles and a Romanian Cup victory across his multiple tenures.
