Last month, Genoa star Radu Drăgușin’s agent Florin Manea repeatedly insisted that he’d held talks with Newcastle United over a potential deal.
The centre-back initially joined the Serie A side on loan from Juventus in 2022 and his stay there was made permanent earlier this year. His displays have seen him draw attention from the Magpies, Napoli and other clubs.
Recent claims have stated Newcastle have tabled a €30m offer while the Naples club are keen on signing him in the winter market. Orange Sport got in touch with the defender’s agent to find out about these reports.
The representative wasted no time in dismissing them and even said the 21-year-old has not received any offers so far.
“It is the dream of every agent to have a player as courted, as good and serious as Radu. Regarding the offer from Newcastle, I know nothing. There is no such thing. I think that if they sent it to Genoa, the people from Genoa would have called me,” he said.
“There is a lot of speculation because it is normal. He’s a desirable player who plays well match after match. I was even laughing with him: ‘They transfer us to another team every day’. But there is nothing with Napoli either.”
The Romania international’s agent knows Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth well from the latter’s time at West Bromwich Albion. Ashworth signed Gabriel Tamaș, another client of Manea, for the Baggies in 2010.
Manea is of the belief the Newcastle official will inform him first if they plan to make an offer for Drăgușin.
“There are and were discussions with important clubs, but there is no official offer. I was also surprised when I heard. In addition, the sporting director at Newcastle is the director who was at West Brom when we transferred Tamaş there. You realise that he would have called me. He would have been the first to announce it,” Manea explained.
The defender has a deal until 2027 and has managed a goal and an assist from 15 games this season.
Manea continually speaking to the media has been the biggest driver of Drăgușin transfer rumours in recent months.
