“Do you know what Mirel Rădoi told me about him?”

Ashley Davis02/02/2026

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Joao Paulo (27 years old), international midfielder of the Cape Verde Islands, is one signature away from the champion FCSB. Sunday evening, at the match with Csikszereda1-0, was present at the “National Arena”.

FCSB resolved at the end of the mercato period the transfer of the central midfielder from Oțelul Galati, Joao Paulo. And on Sunday, just a few hours away from when Becali confirmed the move, he arrived in Bucharest and was with his future colleagues, in the match of the 24th round, won by the Romanian champions with 1-0.

Joao Paulo, with his new team, at FCSB – Csikszereda 1-0

Joao Paulo was present in the stands at Sunday's match. He saw the game in one of the red-blue boxes, together with Mihai Stoica, the president of the FCSB Board of Directors.

Dressed in a jacket with the insignia of his new team, Paulo stayed until the end, and after the final whistle he was caught by the GSP.ro reporter in the lobby of the country's largest stadium.

He is expected to sign the contract with FCSB on Monday morning.

Gigi Becali consulted with Mirel Rădoi on the transfer of Joao Paulo: “He told me: “He was on my list, if I stayed [la Craiova]””

“He doesn't play at Oțelul anymore. That's it, he's our player. Tomorrow we pay the money [pentru Joao Paulo]. 600,000? Approximate. We need to fill in an amount. All the money we take from FIFA we give to them. I saw him in a match, that's all. I saw Lameira, Şumudica told me to look at him.

I watched that game, I don't know who they played. I saw that match and instead of seeing Lameira, I saw this one. I said: “Hey Mihai, that's it!”.

I kept him in mind, I also spoke with Mirel Rădoi. Yes, we talked, he finally answered. He said to me: “Godfather, I didn't want to answer, because then he interpreted, you asked me why I left”. “I don't care why you left, are you crazy? You are my son, I also consult with you».

I spoke with Pintilii. He said: “Good”. I spoke with MM. He said: “Hey Gigi, help us”. I spoke with Mirel and he said: «It was on my list, if I stayed [la Craiova]». But well, the papers were already signed then”, said Gigi Becali, immediately after the victory on Sunday evening, of the show “Fotbal Show”, from Prima Sport.

The Romanian champion will pay 600,000 euros for Joao Paulo, who will leave Oțelul half a year after arriving in Galați.

The World Cup-qualified player will be the third transfer of the winter for the Romanian champions, after Andre Duarte (central defender) and Ofri Arad (midfielder), both taken for free.

Paulo played 22 games for Laszlo Balint's team. He has 20 games in the Superliga, being a basic piece in the gear of the team that fights in the play-offs.
Throughout his career, Joao Paulo played for Sporting Praia, Maria da Fonte, Leca, Fairense, Sheriff and Oțelul. He arrived in Portugal in 2018, from his native country. After 5 years he signed with Sheriff, where he played from 2023 to 2025, before coming to the Superliga.
Joao Paulo is quoted at 700,000 euros on the transfermarkt and was also wanted by Rapid this season. At FCSB, he will fight for a starting position with Mihai Lixandru, Ofri Arad and Baba Alhassan.