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Petrescu plans to leave Chelsea

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Posted: Monday August 17, 1998 10:52 AM

Petrescu: "I cannot be a substitute in a team where I did good things and which I loved so much as Chelsea" Alex Livesey/Allsport

BUCHAREST, Romania (Reuters) -- Romanian defender Dan Petrescu said Monday he plans to quit Chelsea and English soccer "as soon as possible" after being told he was not guaranteed a first-team spot.

"I cannot be a substitute in a team where I did good things and which I loved so much as Chelsea," Petrescu said before leaving Bucharest for Oslo with Romania's national team.

"I have had some offers from important clubs, but I can't name them yet," he said.

Romania coach Victor Piturca picked Petrescu for his squad for Wednesday's friendly against Norway -- the coach's first match after succeeding Anghel Iordanescu, now with Greece.

Petrescu, who has played 70 times for Romania, was an ever present under former Chelsea coach Ruud Gullit, but current coach Gianluca Vialli has different ideas.

"Vialli told me that nobody would be sure of his place in the team, so I have to fight to be fielded," Petrescu said. "But I want to play so I have decided to go."

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