He might have seemed on the verge of leaving a couple of times before, but he was a popular part of Stamford Bridge during that club's rollercoaster rise to the top.

An unlikely honorary Yorkshireman - Sheffield Wednesday were his first English club when he arrived from Serie A - Petrescu has also been a lynchpin of the Romania side for a generation.

The best right-back in the world? Or the best right-sided midfielder? Or a great wing-back? Maybe, once upon a time, he could have claimed titles such as these.

But, although he is too young to be over-the-hill, this move to the Bantams will be seen as taking his foot off the accelerator ever so slightly.

However, his move to Valley Parade didn't work out and, following the sacking of Chris Hutchings, new boss Jim Jeffries told him he was surplus to requirements.

Southampton manager Glenn Hoddle came in for the Romanian for a second time - he took Petrescu from Wednesday to Chelsea - when signing him for a nominal fee in January 2001.

Petrescu played just 20 games for the Bantams.