Alexandru Cicaldau

Alexandru Cicaldau (Romanian pronunciation: [alekˈsandru tʃikɨlˈdəw]; born 8 July 1997) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Turkish club Galatasaray and the Romania national team.

He started his career as a senior at Viitorul Constanța, and in the summer of 2018 transferred to Universitatea Craiova. With "the White and Blues", Cicaldau totalled over 100 games in the Romanian league championship and won two domestic trophies, before moving abroad to Galatasaray in 2021.

Internationally, he registered his full debut for Romania in a 2–1 friendly defeat of Israel in March 2018.

Club Career

Early years / Viitorul Constanța

Cicaldau was raised in Satu Nou, a village near Medgidia, Constanța County, and started practising football at the age of 8. After initially playing at Marcon Star Medgidia, he joined the Gheorghe Hagi Academy, which served as the youth setup of Viitorul Constanța.

Cicaldau made his debut in the first division for Viitorul on 31 March 2016, aged 18, in a 1–1 away draw with ASA Targu Mureș. He became a regular starter for the club in the 2017–18 season, amassing 38 appearances and one goal in all competitions.

Universitatea Craiova

On 6 July 2018, Cicaldau agreed to a four-year contract with CS Universitatea Craiova, being assigned the number 10 shirt. Press reported the fee at figures between €750,000 and €1 million plus interest on the capital gain of a potential future transfer. He made his first appearance for "the White-Blues" eight days later in the Supercupa Romaniei, playing the full match as CFR Cluj came victorious 1–0.

Cicaldau netted his first goal in a 3–0 away league win over Astra Giurgiu, on 26 October. He found the net again after four days, this time in the Cupa Romaniei in an eventual 4–1 victory against Turris Turnu Magurele. On 31 March 2019, Cicaldau scored a header in a 2–3 away loss to FCSB. He recorded his first goal in European compet