Ionut Radu reflects on Inter error and urges patience with Pepo
Former Inter goalkeeper Ionut Radu has spoken candidly about the costly mistake that shaped one of the most difficult moments of his career, saying the experience changed him and taught him lessons about pressure, preparation and resilience. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Radu also discussed his time as Samir Handanovic’s understudy and defended Inter’s current goalkeeper, urging supporters to judge him by more than a single error.
Radu’s most painful memory remains Inter’s Serie A meeting with Bologna in 2022. With the title race reaching a decisive stage, he miscontrolled a back-pass and presented the ball to Nicola Sansone, who scored the winning goal. Inter’s defeat handed a significant advantage to AC Milan, who went on to win the Scudetto.
The incident quickly became one of the season’s defining moments. For Radu, however, the consequences were not limited to headlines or the result. The goalkeeper says he had to confront the disappointment, understand what had gone wrong and find a way to move forward.
Radu on the mistake that changed his outlook
Radu had arrived at Inter with the ambition of eventually succeeding Handanovic, the club’s long-serving captain and first-choice goalkeeper. He says he worked toward that goal, but recognises that his development did not unfold as he had hoped.
“I dreamed of becoming Handanovic’s successor and worked towards that,” Radu said. “I didn’t manage it, but it’s not the end of the world.” He added that, when he looks back on that period, he sometimes sees himself as a young player who had not yet mastered every detail required at the highest level.
In elite football, goalkeepers face a particularly unforgiving standard. A misplaced pass or mistimed touch can turn immediately into a goal, while a forward or midfielder may have opportunities to recover after an error. Radu acknowledged that the Bologna incident was costly, but said it also forced him to examine the small details that can make the difference in a high-pressure match.
“I worked hard, but there was a lack of attention to small details. And in the end, that mistake came,” he explained. Rather than dismissing the error as bad luck, Radu described it as a lesson—one that has influenced how he approaches preparation and the mental demands of his position.
The psychological pressure of being a goalkeeper
Radu said the experience changed him completely. He understood that his mistake had disappointed thousands of Inter supporters, but believes the difficult period also helped him grow. His comments underline a familiar challenge for goalkeepers: mistakes are highly visible, often decisive and difficult to separate from a player’s confidence.
“A goalkeeper’s mistake is the ultimate mistake: if he makes one, the team concede a goal,” he said. “You have to live with that and find the right balance.” That balance means accepting responsibility without allowing one moment to define an entire career. It also involves rebuilding trust in one’s own decisions, particularly after an error is replayed and discussed widely.
Radu credited Francesco Civetta, the scout who discovered him as a child, with helping him recover. Support from people who understand a player beyond a single result can be important during difficult spells, especially when public criticism makes it harder to regain perspective. Radu’s account offers a reminder that the response to a mistake can matter as much as the mistake itself.
Inter’s goalkeeper debate and a message for supporters
Although Radu has moved on from his time at Inter, he says he still follows the club closely. He understands the expectation that comes with guarding the goal at San Siro, where every performance is scrutinised and the pressure can be intense.
That experience informs his defence of Inter’s current goalkeeper, whom he referred to as Pepo. Radu’s message to supporters is straightforward: patience matters. He believes fans should recognise that even top-level goalkeepers can make mistakes, and should also remember the saves and performances that help a team across an entire season.
“People need to be patient, understand his mistakes and, above all, remember all the times he has made important saves,” Radu said. He expressed confidence that the goalkeeper has the ability to demonstrate his quality over time, rather than being judged solely on isolated incidents.
The point is especially relevant in modern football, where a goalkeeper is expected to do much more than stop shots. Many teams ask their number one to start attacks with accurate passing, remain calm under pressure and act as an extra defender. Those responsibilities can create opportunities, but they also increase the risk of errors in dangerous areas.
What Radu’s story says about football and prediction
Radu’s reflections also show why predicting a goalkeeper’s future from one high-profile match can be misleading. A major error may influence a title race, but it does not automatically reveal a player’s full ability or potential. Form, confidence, coaching, match conditions and the quality of a team’s defensive structure all contribute to a goalkeeper’s performance.
For supporters assessing Inter’s prospects, the same caution applies to any football prediction. One mistake should not outweigh a longer record of reliable saves, just as one strong performance does not guarantee consistency. The most useful evaluation looks at patterns over time: decision-making, communication with defenders, command of the penalty area and composure when pressed.
Radu’s own career reflects the difficulty of turning promise into a settled role at a major club. He once hoped to take over from Handanovic, but his path at Inter did not lead to that outcome. Still, his experience has given him a clear understanding of the demands placed on goalkeepers—and of the importance of responding constructively when things go wrong.
His account does not erase the significance of the Bologna error. Instead, it places that moment in a broader story of ambition, disappointment and recovery. Radu accepts the consequences, recognises what he could have done better and encourages supporters to offer current players the perspective he needed himself. In a sport where one touch can change a match, that may be one of the most valuable lessons a goalkeeper can share.
