 Elche could not support Săpunaru's €1 million wage demands, and released him on 21 August 2014.In October 2015, he took the club to court for the wages remaining in his contract.After four months back at Rapid, Săpunaru signed a season-long deal at CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu on 6 September 2015, including a clause that he could leave instantly if a foreign club wanted him.