He started played for F.C. Arges Dacia in 1996, then signs for F.C. Dinamo Bucharest scoring 18 goals in 20 games and was noticed by Inter Milan, then Chievo Verona and Parma A.C in 2002.
In the 2002/2003 season, when he scored 17 goals in 30 games for Parma A.C., being considered the best foreign striker of the Italian league. In the summer of 2003, Chelsea F.C payed Parma A.C. $19.32 million for him to sign the contract.