FCSB management and Gigi Becali activities

Gigi Becali, owner of the Romanian football club FCSB, has addressed various strategic, religious, and administrative matters. Initially, Becali announced tactical changes, including a shift to a three-center-back system, and logistical adjustments following the unavailability of the National Arena for a derby against Dinamo. He stated that FCSB would cover its own travel costs to Cluj-Napoca to maintain honor. During this period, the club also expressed interest in player Denis Drăguș. Following a victory against FC Botoșani, Becali disclosed significant religious philanthropy, claiming he has donated approximately 15 million euros to Romanian monastic communities, including a specific instance of distributing 3 million dollars in cash at Mount Athos. He noted that this distribution was intended to ensure Romanian monks would not be “economically subjugated” by Greek counterparts. He also described the physical difficulties of his pilgrimage, mentioning the use of a donkey to navigate the terrain. Following a loss to CFR Cluj, Becali shifted focus to officiating controversies and tactical dissatisfaction. He criticized the use of Risto Radunovic as a central defender in a 3-4-3 system and announced plans to move Ofri Arad and Joao Paulo to the midfield. He also expressed dissatisfaction with player Aymen Boutoutaou and announced he would take direct control over future player transfers, restricting the authority previously held by Mihai Stoica. More recently, Becali announced a strategic shift in recruitment, stating the club will focus exclusively on Romanian players to secure domestic titles rather than targeting Champions League qualification through foreign transfers. Under this restructuring, FCSB has completed several transfers, including the acquisition of Karlo Muhar and Denis Drăguș, and an agreement with CFR Cluj for Meriton Korenica for approximately 600,000 euros. The departure of Korenica drew criticism from CFR Cluj coach Marius Șumudică, who expressed disappointment over losing a key player.