Boss, hold on tight because I've got news that'll make you forget about your loan payments and Ioana's allowance! The FANATIK 777 magazine is out, the June-July issue, and it's a real treasure for any true supporter. 100 pages, bro, plus a 50-page supplement dedicated to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, USA, and Canada. And check this out: it comes with a poster featuring the full tournament schedule, which runs from June 12 to July 29. I've already made room on my wall next to the Steaua '86 poster, so I can see both, but Mioara says I don't have space for so many papers. Leave it, woman, football is sacred!
But the part that knocked me off my feet, cuz, is the mega-interview with Mihai Rotaru, the businessman who brought Universitatea Craiova back to life. He says he made the double, invested from his own pocket, and now has plans for the future. Seriously, bro, me with my 2008 BMW, him with his millions – why didn't I have that luck? But wait, I've got my own opinion: if you ask me, Rotaru is an example, but not everyone can pour all their money into a club. I pour my money into car payments and Brian's energy, because he wants to be a footballer, but for now he's just doing dribbles on TikTok.
And there's another story that made me feel old, man. A wonder-photographer from CFR Cluj, a 19-year-old kid who's been working at the club since 9th grade, collaborates with Getty Images, won the Petru Fuchs Award of the Romanian sports press, and ranked in the top in Europe at the AIPS Sport Media Awards. And get this: he was noticed by Fabrizio Romano! At 19, I barely knew how to change a car battery, but this guy takes photos like a pro. Good for him, but I feel like telling Brian: see, that's a role model, not your influencers!
And it doesn't stop there! The magazine also has a portrait of the "Messiah of Romania," a reigning world and European champion who started football at 10 and made it to the national team at 12, despite serious injuries. Now that's a girl! Not like the girls on TikTok who just do challenges. Mioara, if she reads this, will tell me: see, that's how Ioana should be! But Ioana wants an iPhone, not football boots.
Beautiful Raluca Hogyes has returned to the "tube" of Digi Sport after 8 years of "civilian life" alongside Lukasz Szukala, the former FCSB defender. The magazine has details about what she did during this time and what Lukasz is up to now. Personally, I remembered Szukala, what a player he was! But now, he's at home with the kids, and Raluca is back in front of the cameras. Good for her, she had patience!
After the split from Mircea Lucescu on April 7, only four survivors of the first "Golden Generation" remain: Emeric Dembrovschi, Cornel Dinu, Rică Răducanu, and Liță Dumitru. Liță Dumitru's memories are published exclusively in the magazine. Seriously, bro, when I read stories like this, I feel nostalgia washing over me. That's how football was played back in the day, not like now, with VAR and players falling from any touch.
No World Cup without "KnöllDoll" – Croatia's most famous supporter, Ivana Knöll, announces her plans for WC 2026. She's the type who puts on a show, not like our supporters who come with flags and a pain in their souls because we haven't made it to the World Cup in 30 years.
The editorials are signed by Horia Ivanovici ("A super-favorite, who I'm rooting for, and who could be the surprise of WC 2026"), Cristi Coste ("How FCSB hit the jackpot with the euro-ace squad"), and Silviu Ghering ("PCH was wrong: the 'dogs' need unconditional love"). Each with their own opinion, but I kind of agree with Horia: Brazil is the favorite, but the surprise could be Morocco, because they played well at the last World Cup.
The magazine costs 20 lei, bro, and it's now at all newsstands. Seriously, it's a steal: 150 pages of real football, not like the internet news that messes you up. I already bought a copy and put it in a place of honor, next to my mother-in-law's prayer book. I'm going to explain to Mioara why I spent 20 lei on a magazine when I could have bought bread. Well, woman, bread is eaten, but football lives forever!
