 However, Dinamo failed to qualify further since they lost the second leg 0–2.Despite his excellent start, he did not managed to reproduce his form in the following months, netting only three goals until the end of 1999; once in the cup in a 3–1 win against Rocar Bucureşti, and twice in the league against FCM Bacău and FCM Reşiţa.During the winter break, Niculae was close to a move to Serie A side U.S. Lecce, but according to Pantaleo Corvino, the player had a change of heart during the Cyprus Four Nations Football Tournament, when he was called for the first time at the national team, so therefore the transfer collapsed.