Goodwin backs 'fearless' Iovu to flourish in Scotland

BBC News

a day ago

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has expressed his "unwavering confidence" that Iurie Iovu will strengthen his defence - even though the centre-half ended last season in the fourth tier of the Spanish league.The 22-year-old, who has been capped four times by Moldova, has signed a two-year contract, with a club-held option of an additional 12 months, after leaving Croatian top-flight outfit Istra 1961.Goodwin believes "committed and fearless" Iovu will be ideal for the physicality of the Scottish Premiership and that he will prove "a fantastic asset" financially in the long term.The United boss pointed to his "dominant displays across three different European countries".Iovu came through the youth ranks with his local club, eight-time Moldovan champions Zimbru Chisinau, but moved to Cagliari's academy in Italy at the age of 16.Yet to make a first-team appearance for his club, he was nevertheless handed his international debut aged 19 in a World Cup qualifier against Austria in 2021.The following summer, he switched to Venezia but was loaned out to Istra before making the move permanent in 2023.This season, he made 16 appearances for the side who eventually finished eighth in the 10-team Croatian top flight but was sent on loan to Alaves' B side in January, starting 12 games as they finished eighth in the 18-team league.Nevertheless, United point out that Iovu "ranked in the top two for aerial duel success rate and shots blocked per 90 minutes in the division for players aged under 23" in that first half of the Croatian season.They add that he helped Alaves B win eight of their last 13 matches while on loan.