Yo, listen to what hit my ears this morning! I was chilling on the terrace with Fane, drinking a beer and watching matches on my phone, when I scrolled through GOLAZO and I was left speechless. Rică Răducanu, bro, that living legend of Rapid, was rushed to the hospital in Mangalia!
He fell down the stairs, in his slippers, and got smashed to pieces. Two broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, cranial trauma – no joke, the man is 80 years old. He's a presence there by the sea, runs a small business and comes every summer, everyone knows him.
Me, I saw him a few years ago at Neversea, on the beach, taking photos with people, he was super. Now, what do you know? He fell like a rookie on the stairs and ended up with war wounds.
The doctors at the Municipal Hospital in Mangalia gave him the diagnosis: fractures to two ribs, shoulder dislocation, and a blow to the head, he's breathing heavily. It's no joke at this age, recovery will take months, especially with broken ribs – if you breathe, it hurts, if you cough, it hurts. From his hospital bed, Rică said, quote: "I'm not well, I fell on the stairs. I broke two ribs, I broke my shoulder. I was in slippers. And I hit my head, I'm breathing hard. The people here take care of me, they love me, but I'm not well."
Man, that's the talk of a man who fought all his life: goalkeeper for Rapid between '65 and '75, won the first title in the club's history in '67, the Romanian Cup twice, also played for the Romanian national team, Steaua, Sportul, Reșița, Rocar. And now he's struggling on a hospital bed.
He said "the people take care of me, they love me" – that's right, everyone in Mangalia knows him, he's an iconic figure on the coast. But, bro, if you ask me, this is a lesson for everyone: don't mess with stairs, especially at 80, in slippers. Me, I told Brian a week ago not to run on the stairs, or he'd end up in the hospital.
Well look, even a legend can fall. I don't know what to say, it's a tough moment for Rapid fans and for everyone who once saw him in goal. We hope he recovers, but I'm thinking about Mioara, she also has a problem with the stairs in the building – the elevator breaks down monthly. If she fell like that, I'd have no one to make sarmale. Cheers, Rică! We're waiting for you on your feet!
