FCSB owner Gigi Becali has taken an interest in Issouf Macalou due to his performances. Becali praised Macalou and wanted to transfer him in the winter, but Mihai Stoica showed reluctance. Gigi Becali stated that there was no discussion for Macalou. He said that he always tells 'Meme' to look at how Macalou dribbles, and in response, MM told him that he likes the player because he dribbles, but he is not a player for them. Becali also said that he trusts what MM Stoica says, but if he likes a player and wants to sign him regardless, he will do so, as he did with Thiam and Joao Paulo.

The publication Africa Soccer reports that there is renewed interest from the reigning champion for the 27-year-old Ivorian footballer, Issouf Macalou. FCSB has taken steps to inquire about the player while analyzing their options to strengthen the squad. Any possible move would likely involve discussions between clubs if FCSB decides to proceed with the transfer efforts. The African journalists wrote that the interest is not entirely new, as an initial attempt to bring the player to Bucharest was made during the winter transfer window. At that time, negotiations between the parties did not lead to an agreement and the move did not materialize.

Gigi Becali has confirmed he will not be signing Issouf Macalou for FCSB and declared that the player is now excluded. The owner explained that while he personally would be interested in Macalou, whom he has watched for about a year, his collaborators are against the move. Mihai Stoica reiterated that FCSB is not interested in the player, pointing to his statistics of one goal in 22 matches this season. Stoica acknowledged that Macalou has quality and is very good one-on-one. He said that for an attacking player, one has to look at the numbers. He also stated that the transfer was never an issue and the player's name was never mentioned at the club.

Gigi Becali, the FCSB owner, is reportedly interested in signing winger Issouf Macalou from 'U' Cluj to provide competition for Daniel Bîrligea and Mamadou Thiam. However, MM Stoica has expressed disagreement regarding the potential arrival of the 27-year-old player from Ivory Coast. Stoica explained that while he considers Macalou to be very good in one-on-one situations, he is not impressed by the player's statistics. In the current SuperLiga season, Macalou has 1 goal and 6 assists in 22 appearances. Mihai Stoica also stated that Issouf Macalou's name was never mentioned at FCSB and that his transfer was never a consideration for the club. The French-Ivorian player joined FC Universitatea Cluj on 21/01/2025, and his contract expires on 30/06/2028. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is €650k.