Mihai Rotaru, president of Universitatea Craiova, confirmed in a phone interview on Digi Sport Special that the club will exercise the buyout clause to secure midfielder Alexandru Cicâldău on a permanent basis. Currently on loan from Galatasaray, Cicâldău’s transfer is in the process of renegotiation, but the club is committed to finalizing the deal soon.
Cicâldău, 27, who has battled significant injury problems since February—missing competitive action since then—was previously a key player for Galatasaray, impressing early on and scoring goals before a change in coaching staff and subsequent injuries hampered his form and playing time. Rotaru emphasized that despite these setbacks, Cicâldău is expected to be fully fit and ready by September.
The midfielder featured in 15 matches last season, netting three goals, and is valued at approximately €2 million according to Transfermarkt. His return to Craiova marks a strategic move for both player and club, as Cicâldău aims to relaunch his career in familiar surroundings and Universitatea seeks to strengthen its squad for the upcoming season.
This permanent acquisition reflects Craiova’s confidence in Cicâldău’s recovery and potential impact, signaling a significant development in the Romanian Super Liga’s transfer market and the club’s ambition to compete at a high level domestically and in European competitions.