Following a dramatic exit from Shenzhen Juniors marked by financial disputes and a theatrical protest in the club president’s office, Arnold Garita signed with FCSB in August. The 31-year-old forward quickly praised the advanced recovery facilities in Bucharest, comparing them favorably to major European clubs.
The Chinese Exit: Fines, Suspension, and a Dramatic Protest
Arnold Garita’s departure from Shenzhen Juniors came after a turbulent period in his career. Following a direct red card on July 17 in a match against Suzhou Dongwu, the forward received a five-match suspension, a substantial fine, and exclusion from the club’s primary squad.
Garita explained that the club chose to remove him from the active roster because management believed they could not win matches without a foreign striker. Rather than viewing the squad exclusion as a formal disciplinary measure, the player noted that the team operated under the assumption that foreign forwards were indispensable to their success.
The situation escalated when Garita received formal notification detailing the financial penalties imposed for the red-card incident. Faced with figures that would take years to settle under his contract terms, the forward confronted management directly.
Inside the President’s Office
Seeking to alter his circumstances, Garita entered the club president’s office to protest the financial penalties and his removal from the playing roster. He argued that serving a five-match suspension was impossible while off the active list, meaning the ban would carry over if he ever returned to play in China.
To emphasize his frustration, the 31-year-old striker resorted to theatrical gestures, dropping to the floor and raising his hands in the air.
Mr. President, so I can no longer play now… For you it’s not a sanction, but for me it is! Because I can’t even serve the five-match suspension now. If next year I want to play again in China, first I have to serve the five matches. You took me off the list, I can no longer play, but you still want to take my money? Well, that’s not possible! Arnold Garita, via Digisport
The forward continued his protest by asking whether management intended to push him to extreme measures, shouting for the president to end the situation entirely before leaving the office and laughing about the absurdity of the confrontation.
Moving On to FCSB and High-End Recovery Equipment
Following his release from the Chinese club and a period of nearly a month without competitive action, Garita officially signed with FCSB on August 20. The move brought an abrupt end to a prolific stint in Asia, where he had contributed 12 goals and one assist in 14 official appearances for Shenzhen Juniors after transferring from Hapoel Beer Sheva in January 2026.
Upon arriving at his new club, the forward expressed astonishment at the infrastructure and recovery technology available at the Bucharest base. In video remarks shared with supporters, Garita highlighted the presence of specialized medical and athletic recovery tools that rival those found at elite European institutions.
Among the standout features at the club base is a dedicated cryotherapy cabin capable of reaching extreme temperatures. According to as.ro, the player noted that maintaining such equipment incurs significant operational expenses, yet the facility places it directly next to the locker room for daily player use.
Comparing Infrastructure to French Ligue 1 Standards
Garita drew direct comparisons between the setup in Romania and the infrastructure typical of French football. He asserted that outside of a select few prominent clubs, most teams in Ligue 1 lack comparable recovery apparatus.
Alongside cryotherapy, the team facility utilizes hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers, where players breathe pure oxygen to accelerate physical recovery following matches and training sessions.
The forward noted that apart from Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, and Lille, very few clubs in France maintain comparable cryotherapy capabilities. By securing access to these advanced medical resources, the Bucharest club provides its squad with recovery conditions designed to support high-level performance across domestic competition.
