Franco-Ivorian right winger Issouf Macalou of U Cluj is being linked with a switch to Romanian rivals FCSB, with fresh speculation emerging over the 27-year-old’s future in the SuperLiga.
The Abidjan-born attacker, who holds both Côte d’Ivoire and French nationality, is currently valued at €1.20m and is under contract at FC Universitatea Cluj, though public details of any expiry date remain unclear. That uncertainty has fuelled talk that he could yet run down his deal and move as a free agent if no agreement over terms is reached.
Rumours of FCSB’s interest surfaced on 9 June 2026, with the probability of a transfer still officially listed as unknown (“?”). No fee, pre-contract or medical has been reported, and there is no indication so far that the clubs have reached an agreement.
Macalou, who stands at 1.87m and favours his left foot despite playing predominantly on the right flank, has been a key figure for U Cluj in Romania’s top flight. Lining up in the SuperLiga, he has operated mainly as an attacking right winger, using his height and power to threaten at the back post and his ability to cut inside onto his stronger foot.
Recent league action has kept the winger firmly in the shop window, with U Cluj facing domestic opposition in the SuperLiga in the run-in to the summer window, though detailed statistics and a definitive standout match performance have not been formally disclosed in the latest data.
Born on 27 December 1998 and wearing the number 19 shirt at U Cluj, Macalou has built a reputation as a late-blooming wide forward, and any move to FCSB would represent a step into one of the division’s most high-profile environments. If the transfer materialises, it could prove pivotal in elevating his career trajectory, raising his visibility in European markets and shaping how he is viewed in both Ivorian and French football circles over the coming seasons.
