Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Wednesday, March 11, 2026 8:05 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, March 11, 2026 8:34 p.m.
Mihai Stoica, the president of the FCSB Board of Directors, spoke about Issouf Macalou and Andrei Coubiș, players who had a very good season at U Cluj and whom the red-blue formation had in their sights.
Gigi Becali, the boss of FCSB, claimed that they wanted to transfer Macalou, but the “collaborators” opposed, with a clear reference to Mihai Stoica. Now the FCSB official has told his own version.
Mihai Stoica, about bringing Issouf Macalou: “I want to see him in Europe. I'm interested in that”
“It's endless nonsense. Macalou was not discussed before he arrived at Cluj University. After? Well, when did U Cluj ever sell Macalou to us?
We struggled at Thiam. We wanted to buy Thiam. Found this solution.
Thiam wanted to leave, the agent was in a scandal with the club, Gheorghiță left and Thiam came. When I talked about transferring Thiam, he was not transferable. They wanted Musi in exchange for Thiam. Thiam was not transferable and Macalou was?Mihai Stoica transmitted to Prima Sport.
My public speech was that at the time we spoke Macalou had 22 games and one goal. Let me tell you something. This match with us, Macalou played alone. We showed up at the match and barely saw each other on the field. It was a disastrous development. I want to see a Macalou in Europe. Macalou has two matches with Ararat-Armenia, without achievements. Lukic also scored then. This interests me.
If I insisted on bringing Macalou and he did what he did with the CFR, not that I was against the wall, he would throw stones at me! Macalou has an exceptional second part of the season. This does not mean that if he was with us he was extraordinary. Miculescu has some figures in Europe… They are easy to see, but not easy to achieve. Miculescu scored a goal and assisted PAOK, the champion of Greece. That interests me. For the fans, the championship is important, for us it's how you present yourself in Europe
–Mihai Stoicaat Prima Sport
Macalou, U Cluj / PHOTO: Imago
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Issouf Macalou has 34 matches, 7 goals and 10 assists this season, in all competitions for U Cluj. He was brought by the “red caps” to the team in the summer of 2025. He has only played in the lower leagues in France. It is quoted at 650,000 euros.
Why didn't Andrei Coubiș end up at FCSB: “I liked him a lot, but could you take a player who hadn't played at all?”
“I really liked Coubiș. I went and saw him, he also played right back. Before that U19 scandal in Slovakia when he was accused of talking to the Italians. I went to the match with Italy. He impressed me, and then he got injured very seriously. We talked after the injury. Could you take a player who had never played at Sampdoria? We need players to come and play. Andre Duarte, for example. He is exceptional and maintains that he is not at his full potential. He wasn't the problem. It's excellent and it's what we need,” Mihai Stoica told Prima Sport.
U Cluj permanently transfers Andrei Coubiș
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Andrei Coubiș is at his first senior matches. He has only 8 in all competitions, but he has already impressed in the Romanian championship. He played junior at AC Milan and was also at Sampdoria. He was on the radar of the University of Craiova and that of Dinamo. It is quoted at 100,000 euros by specialized websites.
