Businessman of Doumbia shoots: “Napoli? It was a pride, but Sporting...”

Ithis Doumbia is living a year of 2026 filled with change. Last summer, he traded the Italians of Venezia for Sporting, where he has revealed himself an important piece for Leonino coach Rui Borges. But the changes do not stop here.

Doumbia has recently been called upon to join the electors of the main selection of Italy, for which it already adds two internationalizations, the last of which already this Monday before Turkey.

In connection with this growth of Issa Doumbia, Italian television station Stile TV, from the Salerno region, set out for conversation with Cheikh Sabidou Fall, manager of the Sporting player.

The agent said that the 77 of the green and white shirts had invitations from several clubs on the table – it was pointed to emblems such as Napoli, AS Roma, AC Milan or Benfica last summer - which he rejected to head to Lisbon and sign with Sporting.

“ I hope all Issa Doumbia's dreams come true. We were close to a negotiation with Napoli, there were some conversations this summer, but then the boy went to Sporting. It was a matter of conversation, because until there's a proposal in writing, that's what I think. There's been interest, I know the coach likes him, and the board likes him, but there's a big difference between interest and a proposition. I thought you might get along at Napoli. Being associated with Napoli is, for us, a source of pride”, he started by saying Cheikh Sabidou Fall, quoted by the Italian portal CalcioNapoli24.

The entrepreneur also talked about what Issa Doumbia's early days have been like in the service of the Italian selection.

“I saw Issa in Rome, I went to Turkey for the game, and we are incredibly happy and proud of the career of this young man who made his own way. It had a different route: it did not start in a big club, it passed through the young layers of the Albinoleffe until it reached Venezia, and then we made that leap to Sporting, and the kid came to the national team for his own merits and qualities. With dedication and commitment, it is therefore possible to reach the selection, and we are proud of it ", continued.

To close, the entrepreneur stressed the importance of the move from Venezia to Sporting.

“Sporting is a European club and when they contacted us, we did not hesitate. In a club like this, the market is different because you play to win the Portuguese championship, you play the Champions League, and when Sporting hires a player, it's because you follow him closely, you have an excellent scouting department. Several players came from lower divisions and reached a high level, and when we were told that Doumbia would fit well in this midfield, we were honored and simply accepted”, he concluded.

Hired to Venezia for €20.5 million, in a business that includes another €6 million in goals, Doumbia, who has a contract with Sporting until June 2031, takes eight lion games to the chest this season, with one assistance.