This week was a very special one for Radu Drăgușin, with the player making his debut for Juventus in the Champions League. At just 18-years-of-age, he was given 21 minutes during the Turin club’s 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv.
It’s a huge jump for the youngster, who had been playing in the youth categories before that, and there’s excitement arund his progress. Given the occasion, TMW have spoken to agent Florin Manea, who helped arrange the move to Juventus, and he’s explained why despite interest from other clubs, with Chelsea the only one named, Drăgușin chose to sign for Juventus.
“There were other teams too, it’s true,” explain Manea. “But he really wanted the Bianconeri. He asked me where he could become a great central defender. This is why he chose Juventus, and there was also Chelsea on the boy.
Since signing for the Serie A side in 2018, the Romanian has been making his way through the system, and hasn’t yet been sent out on loan anywhere. That may be why Juve were preferred to Chelsea, and also the great tradition the Italian club have of central defenders.
The opportunity to learn from the likes of Bonucci and Chiellini isn’t one to miss, and there’s also another example who is helping Drăgușin’s ‘daydream’ continue, with Manea adding: “Three years ago he was watching Ronaldo on television. Now he plays with him.”
