Viitorul Constanța Born in
Agigea,
Constanța County, Manea spent his junior years in the
academy of
Viitorul Constanța. He made his professional debut for the club on 21 April 2014, in a 0–3 home
Liga I loss to
Steaua București.
Apollon Limassol In the summer of 2014, an
investment fund acquired Manea's playing rights and he was registered by Cypriot side
Apollon Limassol. The transfer fee was rumoured to be worth €2.5 million. Previously, Romanian media reported that Manea had been sold to
Premier League team
Chelsea for roughly £2.3 million, but the rumour proved to be false. In May 2018, the player himself stated that he had believed he would sign for Chelsea and that he had never physically been to Cyprus.
Various loans Manea spent the
2014–15 campaign on loan at his former club Viitorul Constanța, and scored his first senior goal in a 2–1 away defeat of
Petrolul Ploiești on 13 April 2015. On 28 August 2015, Manea moved to Belgian team
Royal Excel Mouscron on a
season-long loan, which was extended for another year. He amassed 18 appearances in all competitions before returning to Romania on 27 June 2017, joining
CFR Cluj also on loan. He was an undisputed starter during his stint, winning back-to-back national championships. On 2 September 2019, fellow Liga I team
FCSB agreed a deal to sign Manea on loan with an option to buy. He fell out of favour at the
Bucharest-based club, and on 31 January 2020 returned to CFR Cluj on loan for the remainder of the
season.
CFR Cluj On 6 September 2020, Manea signed a four-year deal with CFR Cluj for an undisclosed transfer fee. Manea scored his first
European goal on 3 August 2021, in a 1–1 home draw with
Young Boys in the
UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
Rapid București On 24 June 2024, Manea agreed to a three-year contract with
Rapid București as a
free agent. ==International career==