While not yet official, Radu Dragușin will be signing for Tottenham in the foreseeable future, as he is on his way to London, as per the Italian media.
However, the transfer is also getting a lot of coverage in Romania, since that’s where the centre-back is from, and Florin Manea, his agent, spoke to GSP about the move.
In fact, the representative can’t quite believe what has happened in the past few hours, since Bayern Munich came in with a last ditch bid, which he had to reject in favour of Tottenham to respect his client’s wishes.
He immediately made it clear that ‘everything is ready’ for the defender’s move to Spurs, with the player set to fly to London with his agent to then undergo a medical.
Manea adds the decision to head to Tottenham was made ‘this morning, at 8am’, after Bayern came in with their offer the night before.
He said: “We stopped dead. We were on our way to the airport. I said we have to think carefully and evaluate. Bayern are one of the biggest clubs. I can’t believe I turned Bayern down! But that’s the decision. I took it with Radu and his family. I informed Bayern that this was the decision, that they came in at the last minute and that it was difficult to change our decision.
“Maybe in the future we will get there. We are a little overwhelmed. To turn down Bayern… But it was ultimately what Radu and his family wanted. He is happy. We’re going to Tottenham!”
While Manea revealed that his client did evaluate Bayern’s bid for him when the offer came the night before, but his mind was made up.
He continued: “I made the decision in the morning. It’s hard to make such a choice. Bayern strongly wanted him, but the official offer came on the last night. There was more money from Bayern, but he said that this is the right step in his career. We stayed up all night to think. I did not sleep at all. We stayed to see what the advantages and disadvantages were.”
With Dragușin set to earn around €3m/year at Tottenham, he will be increasing his wage handsomely, but Bayern were prepared to give him even more.
Manea continued: “He didn’t choose the money. There was more at Bayern. He said this is the right step for his career. He chose his career before money, and that is commendable. I don’t know how many would have refused the offer he had from Bayern. There were many who didn’t think we were turning down Bayern. I said this is the right step.
“There was quite a difference. Almost half as much, if not more, but never mind the amounts. They were never a priority. We always choose the steps we think are right. I think he weighed that he always wanted to get to the Premier League.”
Manea also explained that there was a point when Tottenham were quite far off Genoa’s demands for the defender.
This was the point where they decided that if an agreement was reached, they would head to Spurs, and if they didn’t, then it would be Bayern.
However, he made it clear that ‘Tottenham made a big effort’ to get the player, and that there are just ‘small details to be worked out’, with 99% of the transfer agreed.
