As recently as this summer, Djed Spence’s Tottenham Hotspur career was as good as over. After being dubbed a “club signing” by Antonio Conte and foisted off on loan to whomever would take him, and dogged by allegations of a poor attitude, it looked like Djed was as good as gone in the summer transfer window.
But then something interesting happened — he started playing football in Tottenham’s preseason tour, and his performances started turning heads. Spence reportedly had a clear-the-air meeting with Ange Postecoglou this summer and turned his career around — he not only managed to keep his place in the team, but has shown he can be a useful utility player at both left and right back under Big Ange’s tactics.
Today, Djed’s redemption cycle is complete. The club announced that Spence has signed a contract extension at the club that will keep him in a Spurs shirt through summer 2028!
I still don’t understand the club leaving Spence out of this year’s Europa League squad for Fraser Forster and likely never will, but this is still excellent news and seems to reflect Tottenham’s trust and support for Djed and his football. I’m not convinced Spence is anything more than solid depth for Tottenham at this point, but solid depth is important, and Djed has already proven that he can do a job when called upon. That’s not anything to take lightly.
Honestly, I’m very pleased by this. Hopefully this is something that Spence can grab on to and use as further encouragement. Injuries to Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, and Destiny Udogie will come this season, and it’s nice to know that we have a solid reserve in place for the next several years to step in when needed. Redemption stories like this one don’t come along that often, and it’s quite nice to see this one happen.
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Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin will remain with the club, as confirmed by his agent, Florin Manea, who has dismissed rumours of a possible departure in the January transfer window.
Despite limited playing time, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven firmly ahead of him in the pecking order, Dragusin is determined to fight for his place in Ange Postecoglou’s XI.
According to Manea, the Romanian international is fully committed to his future at Spurs and has no intention of leaving, even though clubs like Napoli have shown interest.
While Dragusin has not yet cemented a regular spot in the starting lineup, Manea expressed confidence that his client will have more opportunities to prove himself as the season unfolds.
The agent is optimistic that the 22-year-old defender could feature in 20 to 25 matches by the end of the campaign, which would mark significant progress for Dragusin in his first full season at Tottenham.
Dragusin made a high-profile move to Spurs from Genoa in January 2024 for a reported fee of £26 million, making him the most expensive Romanian footballer in history. He signed a long-term contract with the club, committing his future to Spurs until June 2030.
So far this season, Dragusin has made four appearances, with three starts across different competitions. His performances have been mixed, including a nervy start in the EFL Cup, where Tottenham needed two late goals to see off Coventry City, and a disappointing red card just seven minutes into his Europa League debut against Qarabağ.
However, Manea praised Dragusin’s resilience and strong mentality, emphasizing that the young defender is learning from these experiences and remains focused on his development.
Speaking to Sport pe Surse, the agent commented:
“It is normal for Napoli to have him on the list. He is a footballer who played well in Italy. I don’t think that Tottenham will part with Radu, even in the current situation, where he is not a starter.
“Apart from Romero and Van de Ven, they have no one [at centre-half]. I think that Radu will get more chances this year. And, if he plays 20 to 25 matches this season, I’m satisfied.
“We even talked after that moment in the Europa League when he saw red. He told me; ‘I’m learning, I’m putting it behind me and we’re moving forward’.
“I think that, at this big level, the mentality is the most important. You have to fight and overcome the moments. In football, you live from one week to the next.”
Radu Dragusin’s agent has made more headlines than the player himself
Radu Dragusin’s agent, Florin Manea, has made more headlines than the Romanian defender himself since his arrival at Tottenham.
Just days after Dragusin signed for Tottenham, Manea upset Spurs fans by making comments about a future move to Bayern Munich, sparking concerns over the defender’s long-term commitment.
He then publicly shared how much money he made a lot of money from the Dragusin transfer.
A few months ago, Manea again cast doubt over Dragusin’s future by stating that if the defender did not get more playing time, he would consider other options. He also claimed that Napoli scouts were monitoring Dragusin, further fuelling speculation.
Agents like Manea, with their constant media presence and provocative comments, often bring unnecessary drama and trouble, creating distractions for their clients and the clubs they represent.
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