Radu Dragusin
Radu Dragusin, the Romanian international, has made a significant step in his recovery journey by returning to action after a long absence due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The 23-year-old, who has been sidelined since January following an injury sustained in a match against Elfsborg, has been gradually rebuilding his fitness over the past few weeks.
Radu Dragusin said: “Honestly, it felt really good. Getting back out there with the boys, with the Under-21s, they’ve been great, they’ve been helping me, so I’m really grateful for this moment. It’s different, you can train how much you want, but once you are there in 11v11 on a big pitch, it’s different, you can’t really replicate it in the training. It’s the details like the sprints back, the adversity, the exposure that you get as a defender, it was a good day. It felt good, first minutes in 10 months out, finally minutes in the legs and I just have to build on this.”
Dragusin’s return marks his first match since the injury, and he is now focused on increasing his workload in the coming weeks. Brentford manager Thomas Frank is keen on a cautious approach to reintegrate Dragusin into the first team, ensuring the defender’s gradual return to full match fitness. Reflecting on his nine-month recovery period, Dragusin expressed that the experience has taught him valuable life lessons.
Radu Dragusin said: “I learned to be patient and to never take anything for granted. Because one day you are on the top of the mountain, next second you are with this kind of injury. This is life, it’s only to make me stronger, make me more resilient.”
During his rehabilitation, Dragusin formed a close bond with teammate James Maddison, who also suffered a knee injury earlier in the season. The duo supported each other through their respective recoveries, with Dragusin acknowledging Maddison’s role in providing emotional support during challenging times.
Radu Dragusin said: “Honestly everybody, but you know, especially Madders, he was there when I got injured, he always was next to me to give me a laugh in a difficult day.”
Dragusin’s return to the pitch is a positive development for Brentford, as they look to bolster their defensive options. His resilience and determination during the recovery process have been commendable, and his reintegration into the team will be closely monitored as he aims to regain full fitness and contribute to the squad’s success.
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