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A closer look at a corner flag inside the stadium. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin’s agent, Florian Manea, has once again sparked speculation about the player’s future with his latest comments. This has fueled rumors of a potential departure from North London.
Dragusin joined Spurs from Genoa in January for a £25 million fee but has struggled to secure regular playing time. With Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero firmly established as the first-choice centre-back pairing under manager Ange Postecoglou, the Romanian international was always expected to play a supporting role.
His limited opportunities immediately attracted interest from Serie A heavyweights Napoli and Juventus, who were reportedly keen to strengthen their defensive options.
Instead of calming the speculation, Manea has frequently discussed the Italian clubs’ interest in interviews. In one instance, he hinted that a move away from Tottenham could be on the cards if Dragusin’s playing time doesn’t improve.
Earlier in the season, Dragusin was given an extended run in the starting lineup when both Van de Ven and Romero were sidelined due to injuries. After a shaky start, he found his rhythm and formed a solid partnership with makeshift centre-back Archie Gray.
However, just as he was gaining momentum, Dragusin suffered a severe injury that required surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. His return is expected towards the end of 2025.
Agent Manea keeps exit rumors alive
As the summer transfer window approaches, Manea has once again fueled speculation. In a recent interview with Stile TV, covered by Per Sempre Calcio, he confirmed Napoli’s previous interest in Dragusin and refused to rule out a return to Italy.
He also teased the possibility of a reunion with Antonio Conte, the current Napoli manager, stating:
“He misses Italy, who knows, he might even come back in the future. But at the moment, the strongest league is the English one, so it’s hard to say that it’s not a pleasure to play there.
Yes, Napoli were interested. I also spoke to De Laurentiis, who was very kind. But it was too late: Tottenham had already started negotiations a month earlier, and Bayern Munich also got involved. In the end, the boy chose Spurs.
All the players in the world would like to be trained by Conte to improve; he is a stratospheric-level coach. But for now, I can’t say anything because Dragusin has a long contract with Tottenham.”
Injury setback for Dragusin
Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin is out for the season. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Manea’s comments spark frustration at Tottenham
Manea’s recurring public remarks have not been well-received within the Tottenham circle. Former Spurs scout Bryan King previously expressed his frustration, emphasizing that Dragusin and Manea were fully aware of the player’s role when he joined the club.
King stated:
“When he signed for Spurs, he and his agent knew he wasn’t going to be a regular.
He was brought in as a squad player. One of the defenders in front of him is a World Cup winner, the other is as quick a defender as you’ve seen anywhere. Both of them are full internationals.
Therefore, Dragusin and his agent would have known he wasn’t coming to Tottenham to be a first-choice centre-back. If they didn’t know that, it was a bad move for the player. I’d imagine the money the agent got and the money the player is on is good. As a result, this angers me a little bit because they knew what the situation was when he signed for the football club.
For now, get on with the job, remember what you signed up for. He’s a Tottenham player and ought to remember who he is representing.”
Despite his agent’s frequent media appearances, Dragusin remains under contract at Tottenham. His immediate focus will be on recovery before battling for a place in the squad next season.
Whether Spurs will continue to tolerate Manea’s comments or take a stronger stance on Dragusin’s future remains unclear.
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