Genoa centre back Radu Dragusin is being closely followed by scouts from Newcastle and Manchester United, and it’s not hard to see why.
The 21-year-old Romanian centre back made a permanent move to the Rossoblu this summer in a deal worth around €5.5m after spending last term in loan in Liguria.
He initially arrived at Juventus in August 2018 and bounced around various clubs on loan, making just four first team appearances in Turin.
This campaign, Dragusin has quickly started to prove himself to be one of the most exciting young centre backs in Serie A, excelling with his confidence on the ball and clever out-of-possession positing, allowing him to clean up when cracks form in the Genoa defence.
Coming from a sporting family, with a mother who played basketball and a father who played volleyball, the Romanian defender stands at 191cm tall and possesses strong athletic qualities, combining an impressive work rate with a solid physical structure.
Looking at the underlying numbers, it’s clear to see where Dragusin excels and which areas of his game could use a little more development.
The 21-year-old is obviously no stranger to foraying forward; his assists, total shots and non-penalty goals all far exceed the average from his peers across Europe’s top five leagues.
His comparatively miniscule amount of attempted and progressive passes make clear that he’s not to be considered a ball-playing centre back, instead preferring to work his way into space further up the pitch to help in build-up play.
This ties into his work in the final third of the pitch; Dragusin is comfortable in the opposition penalty area, happy to receive the ball under pressure and take his time in the box, allowing him to get into good shooting positions.
The graph above also signposts the Romanian defender’s smart positioning, making a huge number of clearances and regularly intercepting the ball, showing how he can put himself in the right spot at the right time.
There are areas of the 21-year-old’s game that could use development, however. His low successful tackles and blocks suggest that he has trouble sticking to his man and making the decisive stop, acting more as a defensive janitor than a rearguard.
Considering his impressive moves further up the pitch, it would also help the Romanian defender to improve his ball-carrying ability, allowing him to carve out his own space and add another layer to his team’s attacks.
A clear talent, Dragusin would seemingly be a great fit for life in the Premier League, able to matchup with the higher physicality and make an impact within the faster-flowing football, which explains why various clubs like Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal are all gearing up to fight for his signature.