Islam Slimani and CFR Cluj facing financial crisis in Romania

Islam Slimani and his teammates at CFR Cluj are navigating a turbulent period as the club spirals into financial chaos.

Despite a summer that saw several French Ligue 1 veterans join the project, the reality at Cluj has turned grim.

Players and staff face mounting unpaid salaries stretching back months, with total club debts exceeding 1.2 million euros. Even after UEFA’s intervention in October and a delayed deadline for repayments, the future remains uncertain.

Club owner Nelu Varga claims many debts are being resolved, yet several pivotal players insist they haven’t been paid. Trust between the squad and management has unraveled, aggravated by recent departures among club executives. Off-field problems add to the drama, Varga’s valuable properties, including a villa and hotel worth nearly 4 million euros, have been auctioned to settle unpaid debts.

With CFR Cluj sitting 12th in the league and enduring a string of poor results, anxiety grows among players. The threat of further UEFA sanctions looms, including possible transfer bans or exclusion from continental competitions. Some, possibly Slimani among them, could depart when the transfer window opens, as the club’s future hangs in the balance.