Why striker Seydou Doumbia made a fateful transfer to Newcastle United.
Speaking to Italian publication Pagine Romaniste, Roma’s sporting director Walter Sabatini has revealed as to why Seydou Doumbia made a move to Newcastle United during the January transfer window.
Newcastle were able to secure the services of the prolific Doumbia from Roma during the January transfer window and it was believed at the time that the striker would help the Magpies navigate their way up the Premier League table.
As it turned out though, Doumbia featured for a meagre 29 minutes of action across three Premier League matches during his time at St. James’ Park and it goes without saying that the 28-year-old did not make any impact whatsoever in England.
Unsurprisingly, Newcastle have now decided against turning Doumbia’s loan move into a permanent one and the Ivory Coast international’s time with the Magpies can be labeled as a big mistake.
Now Roma Sporting Director Walter Sabatini has gone on to comment regarding Doumbia’s time at Newcastle and has stated that the striker made the questionable move as he felt that the Premier League was suited to his style.
Sabatini said: “Many of us got it wrong with him, but when we loaned Doumbia out he went to score five or six goals in the Champions League, he wasn’t just wandering about. He wanted to go to Newcastle at all costs, but I knew he’d be a flop there.
“He went there because he had a strong attraction to that type of football, having scored against Manchester [City] in the Champions League.”
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