Doumbia joins Sporting, likens himself to banned midfielder | OneFootball

Issa Doumbia was officially unveiled as a new Sporting signing and did not hide his satisfaction at taking this step in his career. The 22-year-old Italian midfielder said he feels very happy about the move to Alvalade and, when asked about his characteristics, ended up comparing himself to Paul Pogba, a Monaco player, who was suspended for two years for doping.

"It’s a unique feeling and I’m very happy. Sporting is the best path for my career. It is the best club to help me develop," he began. About the French international, he added: "I think we have similar characteristics. I will try to improve and become even better."

Signed from Venezia, the Italy under-21 international believes he is ready for the challenges ahead of him: "I deal well with that pressure and I’m very calm. I want to help the team, make things difficult for the coach when choosing, and do whatever he asks of me. My goals are the team’s goals: to go as far as possible."

The possibility of playing in the Champions League was another factor that weighed in his decision to join Sporting: "It is a dream to play in the UEFA Champions League and I hope to make it happen as quickly as possible." The new signing also took the opportunity to leave a message for the fans.

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