Doumbia Open To CSKA Moscow Return

Seydou Doumbia has not
ruled out a return to the CSKA Moscow following what was a disastrous stint at Newcastle United.
The 28-year-old spent the second half of the 2015-16 season on loan at the magpies, but could only manage a grand total of 29 Barclays Premier League minutes as Newcastle ultimately suffered relegation back to the Championship.
Doumbia joined Roma on a four-and-a-half-year deal at the culmination of the 2015 African Cup of Nations, but having failed to impress he was loaned back to CSKA Moscow.
He showed glimpses of his old self in the Russian capital, scoring 11 goals in 21 appearances – prompting a move to Tyneside.
Doumbia insists his decision to join Newcastle was not a mistake.
“It wasn’t a mistake moving to England,” Doumbia told our source. “It was certainly an interesting experience, even if it wasn’t positive. Of course it didn’t go exactly how I would have liked it to but in football, like in life, every experience is useful.
“I was not in bad shape, but it just didn’t look like I was part of Rafa Benitez’s plans. But I cannot complain. The coach makes the choices he feels are right.”
The Ivory Coast international is now eager to prove himself in Rome, but if he fails to convince the Serie A side of his worth, Doumbia is open to the idea of returning to Russia.
“As you know, I’m still contracted to Roma,” he continued. “I hope to be in top form come the start of the season. I’m motivated and I want to play. Certainly I’m in good shape, even if I hardly played at Newcastle – I still trained all the time.”
“Why should I rule out returning to CSKA? They are a big club and I had some great moments in Moscow. I’m very grateful to the club and the team and I still have a lot of friends there whom I will definitely go visit.”
Doumbia has scored an astonishing 95 goals in 150 appearances across all competitions for CSKA Moscow.