Juventus goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu has been confirmed as the first summer signing at Kilmarnock. He joins on a season-long loan deal from the Italian champions.
Killie only have one senior goalkeeper at the club in Jamie MacDonald, following Daniel Bachmann’s return to Watford. Branescu is Angelo Alessio’s first Ayrshire signing and will rival the veteran for the number one spot.
Branescu is Alessio’s first summer signing. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images).
Some Kilmarnock fans have reacted to the news.
This is worst keep secret haha but love it anyway 😂
— Ryan 🏳️🌈 (@RyanrsteeleRyan) July 8, 2019
— Jack Wilson (@jackwilson14499) July 8, 2019
That’s good now give me more
— Taylor Lynninio 🇮🇹 (@TaylorLynn1869) July 8, 2019
About time
— gordon sawers (@SawersJnr) July 8, 2019
Hiya x
— Andrea Partrigio🏴🇮🇹 (@Andr3w1869) July 8, 2019
finally thanks killie
— morgano butlerio🇮🇹 (@morganbutler135) July 8, 2019
New Kilmarnock man Branescu is playing for permanent deals
A loan move for the Romanian seems more reasonable than a permanent transfer, given the finances that would have been involved in a permanent move.
This is the seventh time Branescu has been loaned out. He has never played for the Juve first team, but has made 44 appearances for the Juve Primavera squad, their development team.
Branescu was first picked up by Juventus at 16-years-old. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Past loan moves include switches to Szombathelyi Haladás in Hungary, Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus and Dinamo Bukarest in his native Romania, amongst others. For 25-years-old, the keeper is well travelled.
His Juve contract expires next summer and it’s very unlikely, now that he’s not a youngster, that a new contract will be penned. His Kilmarnock spell will have to be a good one, so he has got plenty of permanent offers next summer.
It’ll be interesting to see how Branescu copes at yet another new club.