Article by Adrian Duţă – Published on Thursday, 01 January 2026 18:19 / Updated on Thursday, 01 January 2026 18:30
Former international great Gică Popescu gave him a piece of advice Radu Drăgușin, back on the field at Tottenham after an 11-month absence due to a torn cruciate ligament.
The former captain of the national team and of Barcelona advised Drăgușin to do his best to get as many minutes as possible in the next period, regardless of whether he stays at Tottenham or changes the team.
Also, Gică Popescu told the 23-year-old central defender not to consider leaving for a team at the bottom of the Serie A ranking.
Gică Popescu: “Drăgușin was missing from the national team. He must play”
“It depends on where he would go in Italy. If he goes back to a bottom team, it's a step back. If he goes back to a top team, I think it's a step forward, because Serie A is a top-four championship, even if it's not at Premier League level.
For Drăgușin, it is important to go to a team where he can play. If he stays at Tottenham, very good, let him play at Tottenham, because he is a player who has missed the national team, he is a player with consistency“, said Gică Popescu, former Tottenham player, according to as.ro.
Drăgusin was injured at the end of January 2025 and returned to the field on 28 December in Tottenham's 1–0 win over Crystal Palace. The Romanian international was sent on the field in the 85th minute. He is the fourth stopper option at Spurs at the moment, after Cristian Romero, Mickey Van de Ven and Kevin Danso.
It was a long journey. It was the biggest challenge of my life, but I kept going, I had people by my side who helped me. Colleagues, family, fiancee. Like I said, I knew the road would be long and there would be a light at the end of it. I felt normal again when the coach called me to enter the field. I missed that feeling, the atmosphere, the fans and my teammates on the pitch. I missed football. I am very happy now.
Radu Drăgușin, after Crystal Palace – Tottenham
