Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin criticised at Fiorentina as €17.5m transfer condition emerges

Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin has come under criticism for his performances at Fiorentina, despite establishing himself as a regular starter following his summer loan move to Serie A.

The 24-year-old Romania international returned to Italy in July after an injury-disrupted spell at Spurs, but journalist Luca Calamai believes he has yet to justify the expectations surrounding his arrival.

Fiorentina's agreement with Tottenham includes a reported €17.5million purchase obligation, which could become mandatory if Dragusin reaches a specified number of appearances.

Italian journalist Luca Calamai has expressed disappointment with Dragusin's displays since his arrival in Florence.

Speaking to FirenzeViola, in comments reported by Sport Witness, Calamai suggested the former Genoa defender had fallen well short of expectations.

"He's a player from whom I expected a hundred, but for now he's given 30," he said.

Calamai believes Dragusin has produced only one particularly convincing performance, against Napoli.

The journalist also suggested that the defender's previous knee injury could still be affecting his performances.

Dragusin suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Tottenham's Europa League match against Elfsborg in January 2025, keeping him out for much of the year.

He returned to competitive action in December 2025 but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter before joining Fiorentina.

However, the Romanian insisted during his presentation in July that he had fully recovered from the injury and was physically ready for the new challenge.

Fiorentina's upcoming meeting with Juventus carries additional significance for Dragusin.

The defender joined Juventus' academy in 2018 and progressed to the first team before loan spells at Sampdoria, Salernitana and Genoa.

His performances at Genoa eventually earned him a move to Tottenham in January 2024.

Calamai believes a strong display against Juventus could help Dragusin restore confidence in his ability and demonstrate why Fiorentina invested in him.

It would also be an important occasion for sporting director Fabio Paratici, who previously helped bring the Romanian to Tottenham.

Paratici was instrumental in arranging his move back to Italy this summer, making Dragusin's progress a reflection of another significant recruitment decision.

Despite the criticism, the defender has started every Serie A match for Fiorentina this season, suggesting he retains the coaching staff's confidence.

Tottenham could receive a substantial fee if Fiorentina's purchase obligation is activated.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian club agreed to pay €1.5million for Dragusin's season-long loan, with a further €17.5million due under the terms of a conditional permanent transfer.

Reports from Football Italia and Stats Perform suggest the obligation becomes effective when Dragusin makes his 22nd appearance for Fiorentina.

Tottenham's official announcement confirmed that the agreement contained performance-related conditions but did not specify the appearance threshold.

The reported structure means Dragusin's continued selection could have financial consequences for both clubs, regardless of the criticism surrounding his performances.

For Spurs, the potential €19million package would represent a return on a player whose development was disrupted by a serious injury.

Tottenham originally signed Dragusin from Genoa in January 2024 for a reported €25million plus bonuses.

Although his performances at Fiorentina have divided opinion, regular football could still help the defender rediscover the form that made him one of Serie A's most promising young centre-backs.

Dragusin will hope to deliver a convincing performance against Juventus and demonstrate that he can become a defensive leader for Fiorentina.

Tottenham will meanwhile monitor his appearances, with the reported purchase obligation potentially becoming an important factor in determining whether his move to Italy becomes permanent.