Chris Jones is in Bucharest with Canada’s men’s soccer team ahead of Friday’s game vs. Romania as it continues preparations for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Derek Cornelius knew he was in Bucharest. How he got there, exactly, took some remembering.
The end of Europe’s summer transfer period ran hard against the opening of FIFA’s September window for several members of the Canadian men’s national team, set to play a friendly against 48th-ranked Romania on Friday.
Cyle Larin completed a last-minute loan to Feyenoord. Tani Oluwaseyi joined Tajon Buchanan at Villarreal. Theo Bair moved to Lausanne-Sport.
But Cornelius, the 27-year-old central defender, had perhaps the most tumultuous turnaround.
When he stepped on the grass for Tuesday’s opening training session at a sweltering Stadionul Arcul de Triumf — traffic swirling, ambulance sirens screaming — he looked a little like a man who had been told something surprising about himself.
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After, sinking into his chair at Canada’s team hotel, he still seemed a little uncertain about his surroundings. “It’s been kind of hectic,” he said. “And not so much sleep.”
Last Sunday, Cornelius had expected to join Scottish giant Rangers for the rest of his club season, on loan from Marseille. But his soon-to-be-former side was thin defensively, and he was asked to join them for one last game, away to Lyon.
“Everything was set and ready to go,” he said. “I wasn’t even sure I was going to travel with the team.”
He ended up coming in as a substitute in the 34th minute — “lo and behold,” he said — and after the final whistle blew, he dashed to the airport in Lyon for a 2 a.m. flight to Glasgow.
It was nearly 4 a.m. on Monday morning before he walked into his hotel; three hours later, he was completing his medical to make his transfer to Rangers official, and then took a few bleary publicity photos holding up his iconic blue jersey.
“I’ve heard so many good things about the team, the city, the atmosphere, the support,” Cornelius said. “I’m just happy to experience it.”
He took a call from Alistair Johnston, his fellow Canadian defender who plays his club soccer for Celtic. It’s not quite enough to describe Rangers as their rival, and Johnston tried to give Cornelius the lay of his fractured new land. Whenever Glasgow’s clubs meet, it’s more than a game; it’s a battle between religions. Opposing fans don’t even take the same trains.
“He just gave me a little bit of insight on what to expect,” Cornelius said. “We can be friends here in camp, but in Glasgow, we’re enemies. Like, don’t look at me. But it’s nice to know another Canadian is in the same city as you, even if he’s playing for the wrong club.”
Cornelius then raced back to the airport in Glasgow, caught a hastily booked flight to Amsterdam, and flew on to Bucharest. He arrived at Canada’s team hotel late Monday night before waking up to join his national side for breakfast and Tuesday’s opening training session.
He put in a clearer-eyed shift on Wednesday morning. The 28th-ranked Canadians looked venomous in training, treating possession drills like fights over more meaningful territory.
The weakness is at the back. Like Marseille, the Canadian team is short of defenders. Johnston is out with a hamstring injury. Alphonso Davies, Sam Adekugbe, and Moise Bombito are also absent this window.
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That means Cornelius will likely play most of the game against Romania, as well as next week’s friendly against 31st-ranked Wales in Swansea — after which, he’ll have one of the shorter journeys to rejoin his new club side, at least. In his first game in blue, Rangers will host Hearts.
In the meantime, his girlfriend has been packing up his flat in Marseille and waiting further instruction. Rangers has pledged to help Cornelius find a new apartment in Glasgow, but for the moment, he has no forwarding address.
“It’s our job,” he said. “It’s the reality of what we have to do. To be honest, when I get on the pitch, I forget about everything else that’s going on. I’ll just enjoy being here.”
Professionals learn to stay in the present for more reasons than one. On Wednesday morning, Derek Cornelius had grass beneath his feet. He will again tomorrow, and the day after that.
That’s all he needs to know.
