Issouf Macalou is being linked with a move from FC Universitatea Cluj to domestic rivals FCSB, with the in-demand winger emerging as one of the most talked-about names in Romania’s SuperLiga rumour mill.
The 27-year-old, who holds both Ivorian and French nationality, is currently valued at €650k and has seen his stock rise sharply since arriving in Cluj from Sochaux in January 2025. Transfermarkt lists the probability of a deal only as “?”, underlining that discussions remain at a speculative stage rather than an advanced negotiation.
No fee or contract details have been reported and there is no public information on the length of his current deal with U Cluj, leaving open the possibility that Macalou could either command a moderate transfer sum or, in time, move as a free agent depending on his contractual situation. For FCSB, a player in his prime with a relatively modest market valuation would represent a potentially cost-effective reinforcement for their attacking options.
Macalou, born in Abidjan on 27 December 1998 and standing at 1.87m, operates primarily as a right winger and prefers his left foot, offering an inverted threat from the flank. His recent trajectory has taken him from French lower divisions and Ligue 2 – via spells with Sochaux, Valenciennes, Red Star, Le Mans, Louhans-Cuiseaux, GOAL FC and Sochaux’s B side – to a prominent role in Romania’s top flight with U Cluj.
His market value has climbed from €200k at Sochaux in late 2024 to €650k at U Cluj by December 2025, reflecting improved form and consistency in the SuperLiga. That upturn is a key factor fuelling speculation that FCSB, one of Romania’s biggest clubs, might test Cluj’s resolve.
Should the move eventually materialise, a switch to FCSB would mark the most high-profile step of Macalou’s career so far and could prove decisive in shaping his reputation as a late-blooming wide forward capable of making an impact on a bigger domestic stage.
