Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin was subject of late interest from not only Bayern Munich, but another European side before he signed for Spurs.
The January window saw the Lilywhites strengthen Ange Postecoglou’s options with some solid additions to the squad.
Along with Timo Werner, we saw the Romanian centre-back come in, but it was a battle to secure the deal with Bayern keen on the defender.
Tottenham withstand late hijack for Radu Dragusin
Daniel Levy was able to secure the services of the 22-year-old last month despite the late interest coming from the Bundesliga giants.
However, comments from Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis have now revealed that the Serie A club also wanted to bring in the Spurs man: “I had offered him more than anyone: no one had given him the figures that we would have guaranteed him,” he said.
“Genoa replied to me: ‘Bayern Munich is also there , but the boy really wants England’. It wasn’t a question of money, because it doesn’t always go like this when you try to sign a footballer. If they tell you that the talent you want to sign can be seen elsewhere, that he aspires to certain championships, you can’t help but stop. We’ve done ours, but the his choice was different.”
Dragusin deal sign of the times
For a player to reject the likes of Bayern Munich for Tottenham goes a long way in saying just how far we have come under Postecoglou.
Just a year ago, we were in the middle of a difficult period for the club where we saw the team play under three different managers before the end of the campaign.
Yet, here we are where our transfer targets are snubbing moves to some of Europe’s biggest clubs to land at Hotspur Way.
Let’s not forget, it was only last season when Napoli got their hands on the Scudetto, too.
Dragusin if, of course, still to really make any sort of mark on the starting XI yet with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven forming a sensational partnership.
But as we’ve seen already this season, through injuries and suspensions, his time will likely come sooner rather than later.
And it is clear this is a player who wants to be a part of this project having rejected two huge clubs to arrive in north London.
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