Tottenham REJECT international call-up for star – after Thomas Frank called for patience in his recovery from injury

Tottenham have rejected Romania’s attempts to call up defensive talisman Radu Dragusin as they try to revive their fading World Cup dream.

Dragusin, out since January with a cruciate knee ligament injury, is close to fitness once again.

Spurs head coach Thomas Frank said in August that he expected him back in contention within ‘a couple of months’ but also stressed the need for extreme caution on the road back from such a serious injury.

Dragusin, 23, was named last week by Romania boss Mircea Lucescu on a preliminary list of overseas-based players for the two October internationals, a friendly against Moldova followed three days later by a qualifier at home against Austria, the strongest rivals in Group H.

Defeat against Austria will end Romania’s hopes of reaching next year’s finals if Bosnia-Herzegovina also beat Cyprus. And Lucescu, 80-year-old legend of Romanian football, wanted his strongest central-half to be involved into the camp as a positive presence.

Dragusin became Romania’s most expensive player when he snubbed Bayern Munich to joined Tottenham from Genoa in a deal worth up to £26million, in January 2024.

Dragusin has been out injured since January and Frank called for caution in his recovery

Lucescu envisaged him training with the squad and fuelling morale, perhaps even making a brief cameo appearance from the bench, but only if there was a mutual benefit as part of his recovery programme.

And there isn’t. Spurs soon dashed any hopes, making it clear they wanted to keep Dragusin focused on his day-to-day rehabilitation plan, training and building his fitness steadily under the scrutiny of their medical team.

Romania have accepted this and do not intend could force the issue even though FIFA rules entitle them to call-up players.

‘I spoke with him,’ Lucescu told Fanatik in Romania when asked about Dragusin. ‘He was very happy for the national team comeback but I don’t think I will call him. Tottenham wasn’t so happy to let him come now at the national team.

‘He needs one more month to play again. Radu wants to come, but others warned us it is better to let him train with Tottenham now.’

Dragusin has not played since injury in a Europa League tie against Elfsborg in January. He is training regularly but not yet back in the full-contact sessions with the first team. He has not been selected in Tottenham’s Champions League squad.