Tudor Baluta returns to the club this summer following a mixed season on loan at Dynamo Kiev, but he does so having become a Champions League player.
The Albion defender made late appearances against Ferencvaros and Barcelona, in a campaign that was blighted by COVID and injury issues.
“It was a difficult season for me,” said the 22-year-old. “I didn’t play as many games as I would have liked, but to play Champions League football is one of my ambitions achieved, so I was very pleased to appear in two games.
“I didn’t even swap shirts at the end [against Barcelona]; I wanted to keep my own shirt, with the Champions League logo on the sleeve. A nice memory.”
Tudor moved to the Ukrainian giants last October, linking up with head coach and fellow Romanian Mircea Lucescu. While the side went on to pick up their first league title in five years, Baluta’s game-time was restricted due to a positive COVID-19 test and then a metatarsal injury.
“The season didn’t go as I had wanted it to,” he added. “It was difficult with the COVID situation; I didn’t suffer badly from a health perspective, but I had to self-isolate, which left me behind the rest of the group in terms of my fitness.
“Then I suffered a stress fracture to my left foot, which basically brought a premature end to my season. I was disappointed not to play more because it was an honour to join such a big and historic club. When I did play, and we had fans in the stadium, it was crazy. The atmosphere was special and I know the fans were so happy that we had won the title again. Baluta will return to the Albion for the start of pre-season training in July and believes he will be returning as a better player for his Ukraine adventure.
“I always take positives from every situation. At my age, every experience is helping me become a better player and now my aim is to return to Brighton, with the aim of breaking into the first-team squad,” he insists. “That’s the target but, of course, I am aware that I am still young and have players ahead of me, who are in the team on merit.
“I’m sure there will be discussions when I return, so we’ll just have to see what happens. After a difficult season, I just want to be back playing football again.”
* A reminder that Tudor is helping to raise awareness and funds for Romanian student Loredana Jianu. For more information, click here.