IR
Ionuț Radu
Goalkeeper / Romania / Celta de Vigo
55 OVR
Profile
Key strength: Shot-stopping
Shot-stopper
As Celta de Vigo climb toward safety on the back of consecutive victories that lifted them to 13th in La Liga, a fierce battle is raging between the posts at Balaídos. Romanian goalkeeper Ionuț Radu, the 29-year-old summer arrival from Inter Milan, is locked in a three-way duel with Iván Villar and Marc Vidal for the coveted starting jersey. With 4 appearances and 360 minutes already banked this season, Radu has wasted little time imposing his presence—his 2 yellow cards testament to a keeper who refuses to be bullied in his own six-yard box. Standing at 6'4" with a €9 million valuation reflecting his Serie A pedigree, Radu offers manager Claudio Giráldez something his domestic rivals cannot: elite experience from one of Europe's most tactical leagues. A specialist shot-stopper protected by defenders like Carl Starfelt, the Romanian international represents Celta's calculated gamble on proven quality over homegrown familiarity. With momentum building in Vigo, Radu's push for the permanent starting role could well define the Galicians' survival campaign.