Football Italia

Fabio Paratici thanks Tottenham for ‘accommodating’ his desire to return to Italy and promises he’ll be ‘watching’ the club closely as the new Fiorentina director.

Fiorentina and Tottenham confirmed on Wednesday that Paratici would become the Tuscans’ sporting director starting February 4, 2026.

This means the Italian director will complete the January transfer window in North London before returning to Italy.

Paratici explains Tottenham exit

“I want to thank Vinai and the Board of Tottenham Hotspur for accommodating my desire to return to Italy and join Fiorentina,” Paratici told Tottenham’s official website.

“I have loved my time at the Club, however this opportunity, together with the need to be based in my homeland, has led me to this decision.

“Spurs is a club that is very close to my heart. It has great people working for it, who are as passionate about the project as I am and want to bring sustained success. I have no doubt that they will achieve that and I will be watching closely from Italy.”

Paratici will take control of a struggling Fiorentina side that find themeselves fighting for survival with just 14 points in 20 Serie A matches.

Paratici to join Fiorentina in February

The Tuscans are three points from safety, but have been in good form in recent weeks, collecting one win and two draws in the last three league games.

Paratici returns to Italy after a long and successful spell at Juventus, where he first served as sporting director and then as the club’s Chief Football Officer.

The Italian moved to Tottenham in the summer of 2021 and returned to duties with the club in October 2025 after the completion of a 30-month ban.

Fiorentina and Tottenham confirm that Fabio Paratici will become the Tuscans’ sporting director from February, terminating the January transfer window in North London.

Former Juventus director Paratici will return to Italy next month to become the new Fiorentina sporting director.

Fiorentina confirm Paratici’s appointment

The Serie A side confirmed Paratici’s appointment with an official statement on Wednesday.

Fiorentina confirmed that the 53-year-old would take on his new role starting February 4, 2026.

Tottenham have also confirmed Paratici’s departure. The Italian director had moved to North London in 2021.

Tottenham: Paratici’s ‘wish to move back home’

“We have agreed that Fabio will return to Italy following the conclusion of the January transfer window, in line with his wish to move back home. We thank Fabio for his contribution to the Club and wish him well for the future,” said Tottenham Hotspur Chief Executive Officer, Vinai Venkatesham.

“Our management structure is designed to be resilient to personnel changes, and it will be business as usual moving forward.”

Fiorentina have earned 14 points in 20 Serie A games this season and are currently in the relegation zone, just three points from safety.

The Tuscans are unbeaten in the last three league games, collecting one win and two draws.

The Viola have already completed two signings in the January transfer window, welcoming Manor Solomon from Tottenham via Villarreal and Marco Brescianini from Atalanta.

Radu Dragusin wants to join Roma in the January transfer window, and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tottenham want to include a performance-related obligation to buy in the deal.

Roma continue negotiations for Tottenham defender Dragusin, and Gazzetta provides the latest updates on the deal.

Dragusin to Roma: latest updates

The agent of the Romanian centre-back confirmed last week that a move to the Olimpico is a priority for his client, who has recently returned to action after a serious knee injury.

Dragusin’s representative added that Spurs value the ex-Genoa defender at €25m.

According to Gazzetta, Gian Piero Gasperini wants to test Dragusin in the second part of the campaign, before deciding whether to confirm him for next season.

Tottenham make Dragusin transfer request to Roma

Tottenham, however, have asked to include an obligation to buy in the deal, to be activated if certain conditions are met.

Roma sit fifth in the Serie A table, level on 39 points with Juventus and Napoli, but the Partenopei have a game in hand.

Radu Dragusin’s agent, Florin Manea, confirms that Roma are his client’s favourite destination, but he’s still ‘waiting’ for Tottenham’s green light.

Roma have emerged as Dragusin’s favourite destination in the January transfer window.

“I’m waiting for Tottenham to say yes to Roma so things can really get going,” the defender’s agent told Rai Sport via Calciomercato.com.

Dragusin’s agent drops Roma hint: ‘Gladiators belong to Rome’

“There are a couple of offers for him, but Italy is a special place for Radu, and he’s done well in Serie A. He’s a gladiator and gladiators belong to Rome.”

Fiorentina have also been linked with the Romania international.

Italian sources have reported that Tottenham’s asking price for Dragusin is €15m, but the defender’s agent revealed that Spurs’ demands are higher, while a move to Fiorentina is not in his plans.

Dragusin real price tag is 25m, agent says

“With all due respect, that wouldn’t be the right path for him. He costs €25m,” Manea concluded.

Dragusin has recently returned to action following a serious knee injury.

The 23-year-old, a former Juventus and Genoa centre-back, has already made 40 Serie A appearances, scoring two goals and providing one assist.

During his time at Tottenham, he has collected 26 Premier League appearances, adding seven in the Europa League and one in the FA Cup.

Roma are pushing to get reinforcements in attack as well during the January transfer window and are close to signing Atletico Madrid forward Giacomo Raspadori.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Tottenham’s asking price for Radu Dragusin, who is wanted by Roma and Fiorentina, is €15m.

Il Corriere dello Sport reports that Tottenham are open to discussing Dragusin’s exit in the January transfer window, but value the ex-Genoa star at €15m.

Roma open Dragusin talks

The Rome-based paper confirms that Roma have opened formal talks to sign the 23-year-old, who has recently recovered from a serious knee injury.

Fiorentina are also interested in Dragusin, a former Juventus and Genoa defender.

Tottenham hope to sell the Romanian on a permanent deal rather than on loan with an option to buy, which is the preferred formula of the two Italian clubs.

Jayden Oosterwolde of Fenerbahce remains on Roma’s agenda, especially because the Turkish club are happy to negotiate a loan deal with an option to buy, contrary to Tottenham.

Roma are stepping up their efforts to land Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin as the January window gathers pace.

The Giallorossi are understood to have reopened talks in recent hours, as per DiMarzio, with fresh contacts aimed at finding common ground on the structure and figures of a potential deal.

Dragusin remains high on Roma’s shortlist as they look to reinforce their defensive options for the second half of the season.

Dragusin returns from injury as Roma push for Spurs man

The Romanian centre-back only recently returned to Tottenham’s matchday squads at the end of December, following an eleven-month absence caused by a serious cruciate ligament injury.

His comeback has naturally prompted interest from clubs monitoring his situation, with Roma pushing hardest to bring him back to Serie A.

Dragusin’s profile is well known in Italy after spells with Juventus and Genoa, and Roma believe his physicality and familiarity with the league would make him a valuable addition.

Discussions are ongoing, with the capital club trying to understand Tottenham’s stance and the feasibility of a January move as they look to accelerate their market plans.

Fiorentina are the latest Serie A club linked with Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin as the Viola are looking for defensive reinforcements in January.

After welcoming Manor Solomon on loan with an option to buy from Tottenham, Fiorentina have reportedly set their sights on another player in North London.

Fiorentina interested in Dragusin

According to Gazzetta, the Tuscans are interested in Dragusin, a former Genoa centre-back who has recently returned to action after a knee injury suffered in 2025.

Roma and Napoli had previously been linked with the Romania international who will likely be looking for playing time in the second part of the campaign.

Coppola remains on Fiorentina’s radar

Fiorentina are set to appoint Fabio Paratici as their new sporting director, and according to Gazzetta, Dragusin isn’t the only defender on the Tuscans’ agenda.

The pink paper claims Dennis Vavro of Wolfsburg has been offered to the Serie A side, while Diego Coppola (Brighton) and Rodrigo Becao (Fenerbahce) are listed as alternatives.

Fiorentina have reached an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to sign Israeli winger Manor Solomon on loan, with the deal now pending a medical.

According to The Athletic, the winger will join the Viola on a six-month deal.

The Serie A side will have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season, as they look to reinforce their attacking options during a difficult campaign that currently sees them anchored to the bottom of the table.

Solomon’s move to Italy has been made possible after the early termination of his loan spell with Villarreal. The 26-year-old featured six times in LaLiga for the Yellow Submarine, scoring once, but has now been cleared to complete a switch to Florence.

Solomon to join Paratici in leaving Spurs for Fiorentina

The winger joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2023 on a free transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk, but his time in north London was quickly derailed by a serious knee injury suffered in October of that year. The setback required surgery and ruled him out for the remainder of the season, ultimately preventing him from making another competitive appearance for Spurs.

Solomon spent last season on loan at Leeds United, where he rediscovered form and fitness, scoring 10 goals in 39 appearances and playing a key role as the club secured promotion back to the Premier League.

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario says the Europa League victory in 2024-25 was the highlight of the year and his ‘entire career so far.’

Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario wrapped up his 2025 in an interview with Sky Sport Italia, where he picked the 2024-25 Europa League victory as the best moment of his career so far.

Vicario: Tottenham’s Europa League ‘the highlight of my entire career’

“Without a doubt, the Final in Bilbao. It was the highest point of my career,” said the Italy international.

“Lifting such an important trophy was incredible, and doing it with this club was even more special, given that it hadn’t happened for a few years. Being able to achieve this with this group, which I joined almost three years ago, makes me proud of the path I chose to take. Winning the Europa League isn’t just the highlight of the year, but of my entire career so far.”

Vicario joined Tottenham from Empoli in the summer of 2023 and is delighted with his spell in North London.

“I think English football has technically roughened me up a bit because it’s very physical and there’s less time to be technically beautiful, especially at set pieces, where goalkeepers are tested in almost superhuman ways in situations with contact that’s really on the edge,” he said.

“That’s the beauty of this football culture, where I’m lucky to play and grow. It’s all part of an experience that I’ll carry with me and be able to talk about. That’s also why I chose Tottenham and England. I was looking for something different, something I wasn’t used to. Over these three years, there have been changes in approach and technique, but I think it’s something that has helped me grow.”

Vicario praises Tottenham coach Frank

Tottenham hired a new coach, Thomas Frank, last summer and Vicario praised the Danish tactician: “He creates a close, personal connection with the players to make them feel like an integral part of what his football is on the pitch. He’s a very trustworthy person, a coach who is very clear, very reliable, as they say here in England, and above all, he’s someone with great human depth. That’s the first thing that stands out. Before a coach, I believe Thomas Frank is top-level as a person.”

During the same interview, Vicario also spoke about the Italy national team and his compatriot Gigio Donnarumma, who joined Manchester City from PSG last summer.

The new year will be crucial for Vicario and the national team as the Azzurri will be involved in the World Cup play-off, aiming to qualify for the competition for the first time since 2014.

Sky Sport Italia confirms that Roma are among the ‘several clubs’ interested in Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin, but it’s still unclear whether Spurs want to sell the Romania international next month.

Sky Sport confirm that Roma are interested in Tottenham centre-back Dragusin. Last week, Gazzetta dello Sport already mentioned the ex-Genoa star as a possible Roma reinforcement in the January window.

Roma chasing a centre-back in January

Sky Sport’s transfer expert Marco Demicheli said on Monday: “It’s not an easy deal, and several clubs are ready to sign Dragusin if Tottenham were to sell.”

The defender’s fitness, however, remains a question mark, given that the ex-Genoa centre-back has been out of action since January 2025 due to a knee injury.

The 23-year-old returned to the bench against Liverpool just a few days ago, on December 20.

Milan and Roma want Disasi

According to Sky Sport, Roma are also interested in Chelsea defender Axel Disasi.