Sporting champion backs Issa Doumbia, warns rivals: impact ahead | OneFootball

Issa Doumbia has not even been officially announced by Sporting yet, but he is already receiving praise from those who know Italian football well and also understand the weight of wearing the Lions’ shirt. That is the case with De Franceschi, a former midfielder for the green-and-whites and national champion in 1999/2000, who believes the signing from Venezia has the quality to make his mark at Alvalade.

Speaking to newspaper A Bola, the former player said he knows the Italy under-21 international well and expressed confidence in the 22-year-old midfielder’s potential. “Doumbia stood out in Italy’s Serie B. He is a player with great potential. It is obvious that he will face a completely different reality, at a big club with the ambition to win in a major league, and which will also play in the Champions League. Honestly, I am very curious to see how he develops. Doumbia will make an impact".

Asked about the main characteristics of Sporting’s new signing, De Franceschi highlighted the player’s physical ability and technical quality. “He is a forward-driving player, with physicality, strength, good technique and the ability to make runs forward. He is certainly a player in whom Sporting have made a good investment. We will see what he will be worth to the club".

The former midfielder does, however, acknowledge that adapting to Alvalade will be a demanding challenge. “Playing for a Serie B team and winning the championship is one thing, playing for Sporting is another level. It is obvious that the impact of Alvalade will not be the same as that of the Penzo [Venezia’s stadium], and playing to win at a big club is not the same as winning a Serie B title, but with his characteristics and what he has already shown, it is important to stress that he is a player with room to play at the highest level. And we must not underestimate that playing for Sporting brings a psychological burden that the player must be able to handle".

At a time when Sporting’s midfield is preparing to lose key figures such as Morita and, most likely, Hjulmand, expectations surrounding Doumbia are high. Even so, De Franceschi is confident in the work done by the green-and-white structure. “Sporting’s last few years have been of a very high level, both in Europe and in the domestic league. They undoubtedly deserve congratulations for the work that has been done, with special emphasis on the scouting department and the sporting director, because, I repeat, in recent years Sporting have worked very, very well on the players they recruited".

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.