Article by Cosmin Nistor, Robert Vîrdol – Published Tuesday, 05 May 2026, 15:13 / Updated Tuesday, 05 May 2026 15:13
U Cluj has exceeded expectations in the current championship season and is close to winning the title, if it manages to beat the University of Craiova, and the Oltenians make another wrong step in these stages.
Gazeta Sporturilor found out that, regardless of whether it will win the championship or not, the Transylvanians have little chance to keep midfielder Issouf Macalou (27)as he will try to force a transfer to Western Europe or the Middle East in the summer.
The Ivorian managed the best season of his career, and now he has the chance to go to a much stronger championship than the Romanian Superliga.
Issouf Macalou can catch the transfer of his career in the next transfer window
Macalou, U Cluj / PHOTO: Imago
So far, Issouf Macalou has scored six goals and 13 assists for U Cluj, a team that occupies the second position in the play-off. The Ivorian is in his second season in Romania, and in the current season he managed to get on the ramp.
Sources from the footballer's entourage claim that he has an extremely high chance of getting a transfer this summer, as he is being monitored by teams from Russia, Turkey, France and the Middle East. But everything will depend on his decision, whether he will choose the money from the east or the performance from the west.
In a possible transfer, in addition to what he achieved in Romania, his great relaunch ramp, the fact that the footballer developed in France, until he was noticed by those from U Cluj and brought to the Superliga, will also matter. A return to France is the first option, but in a higher echelon, not in the third division, as it was before coming to Cluj.
The main target is to get a few more assists by the end of the season and after winning a trophy to go to another team. Any trophy or goal can weigh in the economy of a transfer, and after a title with U Cluj he can otherwise negotiate his departure.
Issouf Macalou can leave U Cluj
U Cluj is close to Craiova in the fight for the title
After the victory with Dinamo București, score 2-1, Universitatea Craiova again moved to within three points of U Cluj. The Transylvanians absolutely need a win in the next round against Rapid, but also in the matches against Universitatea Craiova and Dinamo. During this period, the Transylvanians must hope that Olten will draw at least a draw in the matches with CFR Cluj and Rapid.
Also, the two teams will meet in the Romanian Cup final, which will take place on May 13 in Sibiu.
Play-off standings
