“He’ll stay”- Tottenham star’s agent drops bombshell verdict amid transfer links
Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin experienced a frustrating and fragmented campaign in his debut season under manager Ange Postecoglou. The 23-year-old Romanian centre-back endured what many would call a ‘stop-start’ season — a term often used to describe a player’s inability to find rhythm due to sporadic appearances, injuries, or inconsistent form. Unfortunately for Dragusin, all three factors played a role.
Signed from Genoa with high expectations, Dragusin was expected to provide solid backup and competition for the club’s first-choice centre-backs, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. However, as injuries plagued Spurs’ defensive core throughout the campaign — at one point ruling out the entire preferred backline — Dragusin was thrust into the spotlight more often than anticipated. Despite the opportunities, he struggled to establish himself as a reliable presence in defence, often delivering performances that left fans wanting more.
Dragusin made 28 appearances across all competitions for Tottenham this season, clocking up 2,179 minutes, with 16 of those outings coming in the Premier League, according to Sofascore. While some of these appearances came out of necessity due to the club’s injury crisis, it’s fair to say Dragusin did not consistently seize the moment to cement his place in Postecoglou’s plans. Fans voiced frustration over his inconsistency, with many feeling that he lacked the commanding presence needed to anchor the Spurs defence.
Nevertheless, his contributions were not without value. Dragusin played a key role in Spurs’ impressive Europa League run, helping the North London club lift the trophy — their first European silverware in decades. Sadly, just as he began to show signs of settling, his season was cut short by a devastating ACL rupture late in the campaign, sidelining him for months.
Inter Transfer Links Dismissed by Agent
Speculation about Dragusin’s future began to surface almost immediately after his injury, with reports emerging from Italy suggesting that Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan were exploring a summer move. The proposed deal even included a potential swap with young Inter defender Yann Bisseck, which would allow the transfer to be completed before the Club World Cup.
However, those rumours have now been quashed by Dragusin’s agent, Florin Manea. In a recent interview with Stile TV (as relayed by Napoli Magazine), Manea made it clear that Dragusin has no intention of leaving Tottenham. “He’ll be back playing in August,” Manea said. “I think he’ll stay at Tottenham. There were a few requests before the injury, but the club didn’t sell him, and he didn’t want to change teams, so everything has remained the same.”
Manea acknowledged that speculation intensified following Cristian Chivu’s appointment at Inter — given the personal relationship they share — but insisted it was nothing more than media chatter. “There are a lot of rumours, especially with Chivu’s arrival at Inter, because we are very good friends with Chivu, but they’re just speculations,” he added. “Our minds are focused on recovery: the boy wants to get back to playing as soon as possible and be stronger than before.”
A Big Season Ahead
Dragusin’s commitment to remaining at Tottenham next season will come as welcome news for Spurs, especially as they manage a tight transfer budget and already have several priorities to address in the summer window. While the Romanian may not have made the strongest first impression, his desire to fight for his place shows the kind of mentality Postecoglou values as he continues shaping his squad.
The club will still need to invest in at least one new centre-back to reinforce the depth and quality of the backline, especially considering the physical demands of balancing domestic and European competitions. However, Dragusin staying gives the Lilywhites a bit more breathing room and flexibility in the market.
After finishing the season on a high with Europa League glory, Spurs will now aim to carry that momentum forward and push for greater consistency in the Premier League. With Dragusin determined to bounce back stronger from injury and prove his worth, he could yet become an important figure in Tottenham’s ambitions to close the gap on their top-four rivals next season.