Mamadou Thiam arrived at FCSB with expectations of becoming a powerful attacking weapon, but his time in Bucharest did not unfold as Gigi Becali had hoped. The Senegalese striker, who once impressed in Romanian football and attracted the FCSB owner’s attention for years, has now found himself facing another difficult chapter in his career. After leaving FCSB in the summer of 2026 and signing for Turkish second-division side Sariyer, Thiam is still struggling to rediscover his scoring touch. Even more concerning, he has not found the net since February, when he scored against Botoșani while playing for FCSB. For a striker who was once backed to score between 15 and 20 goals in a season, the situation raises an obvious question: what happened to the player Becali believed could transform his attack?
Mamadou Thiam’s difficult spell at FCSB
Thiam joined FCSB in the summer of 2025 after leaving Universitatea Cluj, where he had enjoyed two productive spells. His performances in Cluj had helped establish him as a striker capable of competing in Romania’s top division, and his physical presence made him an attractive option for a club looking to strengthen its attacking line.
Becali had wanted the Senegalese forward for a considerable period. In fact, the FCSB owner had attempted to bring him to the club as early as 2023, but the move did not materialize at that time. Thiam eventually left Romania for experiences abroad before returning to Universitatea Cluj in 2024.
When FCSB finally secured his services in 2025, expectations were considerable. The reported agreement involved €50,000 and Andrei Gheorghiță moving in the opposite direction to Universitatea Cluj. However, the transfer did not produce the attacking impact Becali had anticipated.
During his time at FCSB, Thiam made 39 appearances and scored five goals. Those numbers fell short of what the club had hoped to receive from a forward brought in to provide additional strength, hold up the ball, and contribute regularly in front of goal.
Although Thiam possessed physical qualities that appealed to Becali, translating those attributes into consistent goals proved difficult. Eventually, the striker departed FCSB during the summer of 2026, bringing his Romanian adventure with the Bucharest club to an end.
Eight months without a goal: Thiam’s worrying situation
Thiam’s difficulties have continued since his departure from FCSB. After joining Sariyer, a club competing in Turkey’s second division, the striker has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.
According to the report published by Digi Sport on October 18, 2026, Thiam had gone without scoring since February 2026. His last goal came in an FCSB match against Botoșani, meaning that his scoring drought has stretched across his departure from Romania and into his new Turkish adventure.
The situation is particularly concerning because a striker’s confidence often depends on regular playing time and opportunities to score. Without consistent minutes on the pitch, it becomes more difficult to build rhythm, establish an understanding with teammates, and demonstrate the qualities that made a player attractive to a new club.
Thiam’s appearances for Sariyer illustrate the challenge he currently faces. Rather than establishing himself as an automatic choice in the starting lineup, he has frequently received limited opportunities.
His reported playing time in Turkey has included two minutes against Batman Petrolspor, three minutes against Pendikspor, eight minutes against Keçiörengücü, and nine minutes against Boluspor. He was an unused substitute against Antalyaspor and Bandırmaspor.
He subsequently played 29 minutes against Ümraniyespor, 64 minutes against Bodrumspor, and three minutes against Sivasspor.
These figures show how difficult it has been for Thiam to secure a consistent role. Although limited appearances do not automatically explain a player’s scoring drought, they make it harder for a striker to find the form and confidence necessary to become a regular goal threat.
For a player who was expected to contribute significantly to FCSB’s attack, the contrast between those expectations and his current situation is striking.
Becali once believed Thiam could score 15–20 goals
Perhaps the most remarkable part of Thiam’s story is the confidence Becali expressed when the striker’s arrival at FCSB was discussed.
The club owner believed Thiam possessed the physical strength and technical ability needed to become an effective centre-forward. His vision was not necessarily to recruit the most technically gifted attacker available, but rather a powerful number nine who could protect the ball, hold off defenders, and provide a different attacking option.
Becali explained that he had wanted Thiam for approximately two years before finally managing to bring him to FCSB.
He also acknowledged that evaluating a footballer’s character and behavior can be difficult, emphasizing that his interest was primarily based on the player’s footballing qualities.
The owner believed Thiam could earn a substantially higher salary at FCSB than he had previously received and saw the transfer as an opportunity to strengthen the team with a forward suited to his preferred style of play.
Most importantly, Becali made his expectations clear.
In comments made on Liga Digi Sport, he said he believed Thiam could score between 15 and 20 goals in a season.
That prediction now looks particularly striking when compared with the striker’s subsequent performances. Instead of becoming the reliable goalscorer Becali envisioned, Thiam managed five goals in 39 appearances for FCSB before moving to Turkey.
It is important to recognize that the prediction was an expression of Becali’s confidence rather than a guarantee of what the player would achieve. Nevertheless, it illustrates the gap between the expectations surrounding the transfer and the outcome.
Why Becali believed Thiam was different
Becali’s comments also revealed what he believed FCSB needed from its attacking department.
He described Thiam as a powerful forward who could protect possession and provide a physical presence in the penalty area. In his assessment, the Senegalese striker offered a different profile from Daniel Bîrligea, whom he regarded as the more technical player.
Becali believed the two forwards had different strengths. While Bîrligea offered technical qualities, Thiam was expected to use his strength to hold off defenders and create opportunities for himself and his teammates.
The FCSB owner also mentioned his hopes for Denis Alibec and his previous attempt to give Dennis Politic an opportunity to recover his form. His comments reflected a broader concern about finding an attacking player who could make an immediate impact.
For Becali, Thiam represented an opportunity to add another dimension to the team’s attack. The problem was that the expected results never arrived consistently.
A striker can possess strength, technical ability, and the capacity to hold up the ball, but those qualities must ultimately translate into performances that help the team. At FCSB, Thiam struggled to provide the goals his signing had been expected to deliver.
Now, his limited playing time in Turkey presents another challenge as he attempts to rebuild his career.
Thiam rejected a return to Romanian football
Despite his difficulties in Turkey, Thiam reportedly received several proposals from Romanian clubs.
According to Digi Sport’s report, however, the former FCSB striker made a clear decision not to discuss those offers. He ruled out a return to Romania because his priority was to continue playing abroad.
That decision suggests Thiam is determined to make his move to Turkey work, even as he faces the challenge of limited opportunities and an extended scoring drought.
Returning to a familiar league might have offered him a chance to rebuild his confidence in an environment where he had previously demonstrated his abilities. Instead, he has chosen to pursue his career outside Romania.
Whether that decision eventually proves successful will depend on his ability to earn more playing time, regain his scoring instincts, and convince his new club that he deserves a more prominent role.
For now, the most pressing issue is finding a way to end the drought that has followed him since February.
Can Mamadou Thiam turn his situation around?
At 31, Thiam still has the opportunity to revive his career, but his current circumstances make the coming months important. Consistent appearances could help him rediscover the confidence that made him an effective forward during his earlier spells at Universitatea Cluj.
However, the first step is earning the trust of the coaching staff at Sariyer. His limited minutes suggest that he must demonstrate his value whenever opportunities arise.
Scoring a goal could provide a much-needed psychological boost, but one successful performance would not automatically resolve every problem. He will need to build consistency and show that he can contribute to the team’s attacking play over a sustained period.
For Becali, meanwhile, Thiam’s struggles represent another example of how difficult it can be to predict whether a promising transfer will deliver the expected results.
The FCSB owner believed he had found a powerful striker capable of scoring 15–20 goals per season. Instead, the forward left after recording five goals in 39 appearances and has since struggled to establish himself in Turkey.
Thiam’s story is not necessarily finished, and his current scoring drought does not mean he cannot recover his form. But the contrast between Becali’s ambitious prediction and the striker’s present situation is difficult to ignore.
The big question now is whether Thiam can finally rediscover the goalscoring touch that once convinced Becali he was worth pursuing for years — or whether his difficult spell at FCSB will continue to define one of the most disappointing chapters of his career.
