David Pleat on him …..
Petrescu was an outstanding wing-back, the best I ever worked with at timing his charge forward to seize an attacking opportunity with a run inside the opposing full-back. Trevor Francis had signed him for Wednesday but I was more than happy to inherit such a brilliant player. Like several of the outstanding foreign players I have worked with, he was a tremendous trainer. His touch was superb, and he was only very occasionally caught out defensively. Ultimately we lost him to Chelsea. He was swayed by his wife into moving. She apparently preferred shopping at Harrods to Meadowhall, and had decided the travelling from Heathrow to Bucharest was easier than having to get connections to Manchester and on to Sheffield. There was also the salary to take into account, of course, and we eventually conceded to his request.