London, May 17 – An ordinary Friday turned into an unforgettable event for the 120 children, most of them Romanian, who train at the Eagles Football Academy in London. They received the visit of Radu Drăgușin, the central defender of Tottenham Hotspur and the Romanian national team.
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Radu Drăgușin visiting the Eagles Football Academy in London PHOTO Horatiu Fulga 2 jpg
The academy, led by former Romanian player Gabi Dumitru, enjoyed the presence of Drăgușin, an example of success brought only by hard work and dedication. The meeting was full of emotional moments as the children were fascinated to see one of their idols in the flesh.
Radu Drăgușin spoke to the children about his professional career, emphasizing the importance of discipline, determination and passion for football. He shared personal experiences from his career, from his beginnings in Romania, to his current performances in the Premier League, one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
“I am proud to see so many children who love football. I started from the desire to become a professional player and to be happy with this position. But it's not enough to be motivated, you have to work very hard, make sacrifices. Accepting the idea that you can't have a normal teenage life. If you do that and you respect football, it will reward you“, said Drăgușin in front of the 120 children from the Eagles Football Academy.
“I started at the age of seven at Sportul. Then I moved to Regal Bucharest, and at 16, Florin Manea took me and invited me to Juventus. From there, in fact, my life as a professional footballer began, with increasing sacrifices, work, determination. And, very importantly, with the support of family and people around in more difficult moments. I thank them!“, the Romanian international also told the little footballers.
Drăgusin spent time interacting with the young players, giving them technical advice and answering their questions. The children had the opportunity to get autographs and take pictures with their star, these memories will surely remain etched in their hearts for a long time.
The Tottenham player explained to the children what one of his training sessions looks like: “Training usually in the morning, when the body is most rested and energized. Next, recovery or treatment, gym work for prevention, mobility. The meal arrives, with a personalized menu. And in the second part of the day at home, relaxation, a movie, a walk with the dog“.
Drăgușin wanted to mention the time when he was a colleague of Ronaldo, at Juventus, a player who was an example to him: “I will never forget the time I spent with Ronaldo at Juventus. It marked and motivated me when I had in front of me a living example to follow. The way he trained and played made you understand how he gets to the level of the best in the world“.
Pictures and autographs for three hours
Gabi Dumitru, coach and founder of the Eagles Football Academy, said: “Radu Drăgușin's visit was a real gift for our children. It was great to see how a player of Radu's caliber can inspire and motivate our young athletes. I hope his message inspires them to pursue their dreams with even more passion.“
“He stayed with us for almost three hours and had the patience to sign autographs and take pictures with each applicant. He did not impose any time-related conditions on his presence, which is an extraordinary gesture“, said Gabi Dumitru.
“The most impressive for the children was when he told them about Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he had as a colleague at Juventus. I also liked the way he talked about the coach and how he managed the relationship with the Romanian players. Radu never puts himself in the foreground. We wish him success at the European Championship, we stand by him and keep our fingers crossed“, the Eagles founder also said.
About Euro 2024, the Romanian player said that he is sure that the national team will do well. “We will go to Germany hungry to show that we can stick our heads out and fight with the best. It's a nice tight group, united during the qualification campaign. We understood that this spirit will bring us results. And Mr. Iordănescu did a good job knowing how to lead us on this path“, declared Drăgușin.
