Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer window thus far has been largely characterized by significant incomings, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be players departing the club, too. Once such potential departure is that of Radu Dragusin, with the Romanian center back linked in recent days with a move to Fiorentina in Serie A, the club of former Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici.
That move now appears to be accelerating, with Italian transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio reporting Dragusin’s arrival
in Florence to undergo his medical and finalize the remaining details of the deal:
The arrangement appears to be the previously reported loan-to-buy deal, with an obligation for around €25 million as well as a sell-on percentage. It’s a pretty solid deal, albeit a small hit on the initial payment Spurs made to Genoa for Dragusin’s services, especially given his lack of game time and his recovery from a serious knee injury.
It never quite worked out for Radu at Spurs. He seemed something of a square peg in a round hole, a physical, towering, old-school center back at a time when Spurs were looking for quality on the ball. It meant he often looked uncomfortable on the pitch, unable to provide the quality on the ball the Lilywhites required and struggling to adapt to the faster pace of the English game.
That said, he had some good moments as well, including on his debut where he came into the side for Micky van de Ven and helped marshal Spurs to a 4-0 win against Aston Villa, and the courage he showed to fight his way back to fitness following his ACL injury was admirable.
It just wasn’t meant to be; and now Radu Dragusin’s time at Spurs appears to be nearly over.
