Radu Drăgușin unwilling to join Fiorentina as transfer stalls

Tottenham defender Radu Drăgușin is proving to be a major stumbling block in Fiorentina’s attempts to strengthen their defence, with reports in Italy suggesting the player is reluctant to make what he views as a backward step.

On Tuesday, Corriere dello Sport revealed that Drăgușin had emerged as a key target for Fiorentina, with the move driven by the arrival of Fabio Paratici in Florence. The former Tottenham executive is keen to use his Premier League connections to reinforce a struggling Fiorentina back line.

However, hopes of a deal progressing have now cooled.

According to a fresh update from Corriere dello Sport, Tottenham themselves were not expected to be a major obstacle to negotiations, despite their reputation in Italy for being difficult to deal with. Instead, the problem lies with the player.

Drăgușin is reportedly not keen on joining Fiorentina due to their current position in the Serie A relegation zone. The Romanian international is understood to prefer a move to a club competing higher up the table, with AS Roma and AC Milan previously mentioned as more appealing destinations.

That reluctance has been described as a “big problem” for Fiorentina, who were hoping Paratici’s influence could smooth the path.

When Drăgușin joined Tottenham Hotspur, his representatives publicly framed the move as a stepping stone towards elite clubs such as Real Madrid or Barcelona. While those ambitions have yet to materialise, the defender is not prepared to abandon them lightly.

From his perspective, a move to a relegation-threatened side would represent a downgrade rather than progress, particularly at this stage of his career.

With Drăgușin hesitant, Fiorentina are already exploring fallback options. One name now being discussed is Denis Vavro of Wolfsburg, who has been offered to the club as an alternative.

The former Lazio defender could yet emerge as a more realistic target if Fiorentina fail to convince Drăgușin to reconsider his stance.

Despite Paratici’s presence and Fiorentina’s need for defensive reinforcements, this transfer is currently moving in the wrong direction. Unless Fiorentina’s league position improves or they can present a compelling sporting project, persuading Drăgușin to accept the move looks increasingly difficult.

Fiorentina must now decide whether to push harder for Drăgușin or pivot fully to alternative targets. For Tottenham, the situation appears calm, with no immediate pressure to offload the 23-year-old unless the player’s stance changes.

Is Radu Drăgușin right to hold out for a bigger move — or should he take the chance to be a defensive leader in Serie A?