Ararat-Armenia player attracts Universitatea interest after match in Craiova

Ararat-Armenia winger Zidane Banjaqui has attracted the attention of Romanian club Universitatea following the teams’ European match, which ended in a 1-1 draw. According to Romanian outlet TRUmedia, representatives of the Craiova club have already begun gathering information on the 27-year-old footballer.

Although Banjaqui did not score or provide an assist in the match, his performance impressed officials of the home club at the Ion Oblemenco Stadium.

According to the source, even during the game Universitatea representatives were asking who was wearing the No. 11 shirt for the Armenian club, where the player had come from before joining the Armenian league, how long his contract runs and how much a potential transfer could cost.

One of those who reportedly took notice of the player was Universitatea official Mihai Rotaru. After the match, the Romanian club requested additional information about Banjaqui and the conditions under which he could theoretically change teams.

However, there are currently no negotiations between the clubs and no official offer has been made. At this stage, the Romanian side’s interest is preliminary.

Banjaqui impressed with his pace and one-on-one ability

For the match in Craiova, Ararat-Armenia head coach Manuel Tulipa named Banjaqui in the starting lineup on the left wing. Alongside Artur Serobyan and Sandro Lima, he formed the Armenian champions’ attacking trio.

The Portuguese player of Guinean descent spent 80 minutes on the pitch before being replaced by Jirayr Shaghoyan.

According to TRUmedia, Universitatea officials were particularly impressed by Banjaqui’s pace, sharp changes of direction, ability to move into open spaces and willingness to take on defenders one-on-one.

Those qualities were especially noticeable given the nature of the match. The Romanian side had more possession — 58% compared with Ararat-Armenia’s 42% — meaning the Armenian club had to spend a significant part of the game looking for opportunities through quick transitions from defence to attack.

It was in those situations that the strengths of Ararat-Armenia’s No. 11 were most evident.

Who is Zidane Banjaqui?

Zidane Banjaqui was born in Lisbon on December 15, 1998. He is 175 centimetres tall. The player represents the Guinea-Bissau national team and is capable of playing both as an attacking midfielder and on either wing.

Banjaqui developed in the academies of Lisbon clubs Sporting and Benfica. At senior level, he has spent most of his career in Portugal, representing Benfica B, Mirandela, Aves, Casa Pia, Mafra and Feirense. He has also played for Greek side Panserraikos.

The player joined Ararat-Armenia on January 28, 2026, becoming one of the club’s winter signings. His arrival proved valuable for the Yerevan side in the title race.

Banjaqui has already registered a goal contribution in the current European campaign. In Champions League qualifying, he scored against Irish club Shamrock Rovers in Ararat-Armenia’s 2-0 victory.

Interest exists, but no negotiations yet

The situation surrounding Banjaqui is still at a very early stage. A request for information and a positive assessment following the head-to-head match do not yet mean that Universitatea are preparing a transfer.

Nevertheless, the interest itself is noteworthy. The Ararat-Armenia player managed to catch the opponent’s eye without scoring or assisting, primarily because of his individual qualities and attacking work.

As a result, the trip to Craiova could prove memorable for Banjaqui for more than just the 1-1 draw. According to Romanian media, after the match the 27-year-old’s name was added to the list of players Universitatea will now be keeping an eye on.

Source: TRUmedia