Mihai Pintilii, a former assistant coach at FCSB, recalled speaking with MM about Maccabi Tel Aviv and questioned why a team like them would not buy 28-year-old Romanian international Darius Olaru after seeing him play. Pintilii suggested a fee of 5 million euros should be paid for the midfielder, citing his sensational matches in Europe. According to the article, this amount corresponded with an accessible release clause for foreign clubs. Pintilii also thought other European opponents, such as Basel, should have noticed the player. Basarab Panduru similarly expressed his surprise that Olaru had not secured a transfer abroad. Panduru suggested that while he would have paid the 5 million euros, the player's age might be a deterrent for potential buyers. Olaru has 27 caps for his country, joined FCSB in January 2020 and is under contract until June 2028.