Alexandru Cristian Albu (; born 17 August 1993) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or a defender for Liga I club Unirea Slobozia.
Albu started out his professional career at Concordia Chiajna in 2015, where he spent several seasons playing in the Liga I before relegating to the second division. Following loans to Academica Clinceni, UTA Arad, and Rapid BucureÃÂti, respectively, he signed a permanent contract with the latter in 2021.
Internationally, Albu made his senior debut for Romania in October 2021, in a 1âÂÂ2 away FIFA World Cup qualifier loss to Germany.
Albu was born in Bucharest and is of Romani ethnicity. He grew up supporting Steaua BucureÃÂti.
Albu made his professional debut for Concordia Chiajna on 1 May 2015, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute for Hristijan Dragarski in a 1âÂÂ0 home Liga I win over Pandurii Târgu Jiu. He became a regular starter for the club in the 2016âÂÂ17 season, and on 7 September 2016 scored his first goal in a 1âÂÂ2 Cupa Ligii loss to ACS Poli TimiÃÂoara.
On 4 March 2017, Albu recorded his first league goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against the same opponent. He amassed totals of 99 appearances and three goals in the top flight for "the Green Eagles", before relegating to the Liga II at the end of the 2018âÂÂ19 campaign.
In January 2020, Albu returned to the Liga I by signing for newly-promoted Academica Clinceni on loan for the remainder of the season. On 16 August, he moved to UTA Arad on a one-year loan.
On 16 June 2021, Albu was loaned again to Rapid BucureÃÂti, totalling 36 games and a career-best seven goals in all competitions during the 2021âÂÂ22 season.
In the summer of 2022, Albu joined Rapid BucureÃÂti on a permanent basis after the team paid a previously-agreed â¬150,000 to Concordia Chiajna. On 23 April 2023, he scored the only goal of a home derby victory over FCSB in the Liga I.
On 25 February 2024, he and his teammate Andrei Borza were expelled from the squad for an undetermined periodâÂÂlater revealed as one matchâÂÂbecause they partied in a nightclub after a 1âÂÂ3 loss to Politehnica IaÃÂi.
Albu made his debut for the Romania national team on 8 October 2021, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Nicolae Stanciu in a 1âÂÂ2 away loss to Germany counting for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Albu played as a defender during the first part of his career, mostly as a centre-back, and later developed into a defensive midfielder.
Concordia Chiajna