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Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid had been additionally eager on signing the 19-year-old defender, who has labored his approach as much as the first-team squad in Turin
When the world’s finest teenage skills are requested to call their footballing idols, nearly all of attackers now cite Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sufficient time has now handed that these gamers who spent their childhoods worshipping the perennial Ballon d’Or winners are making the step as much as the senior ranks themselves as they bid to comply with of their heroes’ footsteps.
However who’s the Messi or Ronaldo determine for potential top-level defenders to review? The reply is seemingly turning into Virgil van Dijk.
Regardless of the likes of Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and Thiago Silva excelling over the previous decade, Van Dijk’s ascent to the highest of the world sport following his arrival at Liverpool has seen him usurp all different centre-backs in the case of inspiring the subsequent technology.
The Netherlands worldwide’s near-miss at successful the Ballon d’Or in 2019 has set the usual for different defenders to comply with, and it’s no shock that he’s being held up because the participant many are learning as they plot their very own journeys to the higher echelons of the sport.
Juventus’ 19-year-old starlet Radu Dragusin is not any totally different.
“I’m impressed by Van Dijk, in addition to Bonucci and Chiellini,” Dragusin informed Juventus TV at first of 2020, as he little question remembered to present a shout out to the Bianconeri’s two centre-back stalwarts.
The Romania youth worldwide has since been in comparison with Van Dijk for his confidence in possession and positional sense, and having made his breakthrough in Turin this season, is on the precise path to emulate the Anfield favorite.
Dragusin turning into knowledgeable sportsman ought to actually have come as no shock to his household, with each his mother and father having represented Romania at their very own chosen pursuits.
His father performed volleyball whereas his mom excelled at basketball, although it was his cousin that launched Dragusin to soccer earlier than he then joined native membership Sportul Studentesc on the age of seven.
Having spent 4 years with the crew, Dragusin moved to Regal Sport Bucharest in 2013, a membership that shares an affiliation with Atletico Madrid.
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As such, the Rojiblancos had been alerted to Dragusin’s expertise comparatively rapidly, although they weren’t alone in exhibiting an curiosity in signing a participant who, after 5 years with Regal Sport, had develop into captain of Romania’s Underneath-16s.
Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain had been additionally eager on the strapping teenager, but it surely was Juventus who gained the race, agreeing to pay €250,000 after Dragusin underwent two trial spells with the Serie A giants.
“My brother known as me and informed me there is a good younger participant [in Romania] and I despatched him to see together with his personal eyes,” Florin Manea, the agent who brokered Dragusin’s move to Italy, told TMW. “He confirmed that preliminary impression by telling me he’s a star, so I rapidly reported to Juventus.
“After about an hour, Matteo Tognozzi, Juventus’ chief scout, known as me to say that Radu impressed everybody. Different groups had been too, however the Bianconeri actually needed him.
“He requested me, ‘The place can I develop into an excellent central defender?’ Chelsea needed him too, however that is why he selected Juventus.”
Dragusin was initially built-in into Juve’s U17s facet, however after a season at that degree he was rapidly promoted to play for each the U19s and U23s groups in 2019, the latter of whom play within the third tier of Italian soccer.
Standing at 6’3″ (191cm) tall and with the requisite drive to spend two hours within the health club every morning, Dragusin definitely possesses an grownup’s body, and as such enjoying in opposition to males on the ages of 17 and 18 didn’t faze him.
As an alternative he thrived, and when Juve’s first crew suffered a glut of defensive accidents within the autumn, it was Dragusin who was known as up by Andrea Pirlo to start coaching with the first-team squad.
Since first making the bench in opposition to Lazio in early November, Dragusin has solely missed out on a spot in Pirlo’s matchday squad on 4 events, and made his debut as a 69th-minute substitute in opposition to Dynamo Kiev in December’s Champions League conflict.
He has gone on to make three additional appearances whereas sustaining his match health with the U23s Primavera crew, and was even singled out as a possible possibility at right-back given Juve’s present lack of depth within the place due to his willingness to hold the ball out of defence.
Pirlo shut down the suggestion of Dragusin switching positions, although the previous Italy midfielder may have to begin giving the teen extra alternatives to impress or danger dropping him within the coming months.
Dragusin’s contract is up on the finish of the season, and the likes of Tottenham, RB Leipzig and Newcastle have been linked together with his signature.
Goal reported in January that a new five-year deal was on the table for the teenager, and indicators are that he’ll commit his future to the membership, however till the pen hits the paper questions will proceed to be requested.
“We have by no means had the concept of leaving Juventus, signing a brand new deal won’t be an issue,” Manea, who now represents Dragusin, insisted in December when quizzed on his consumer’s subsequent steps. “We see his future at Juventus.
“Three years in the past he was watching Ronaldo on tv, now he performs with him. Generally goals come true.”
Van Dijk is likely to be Dragusin’s function mannequin, however the attract of Ronaldo – and Messi – endures. Even for centre-backs.
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