‘I lost joy of football at Roma’

Seydou Doumbia reveals that he ‘lost the joy of playing football’ at Roma and says: ‘I don’t think I can go back’.

The Ivory Coast international arrived at the Giallorossi from CSKA Moscow in January for around €15m, but only scored twice and has been loaned back to the Russian club.

The 27-year-old gave a damning verdict of his time in the capital in an interview with Corriere dello Sport today.

Seydou Doumbia reveals that he ‘lost the joy of playing football’ at Roma and says: ‘I don’t think I can go back’.

The Ivory Coast international arrived at the Giallorossi from CSKA Moscow in January for around €15m, but only scored twice and has been loaned back to the Russian club.

The 27-year-old gave a damning verdict of his time in the capital in an interview with Corriere dello Sport today.

 “From the first day at Roma I didn’t feel at ease, I needed to find myself again and it was important to return to Moscow,” he said.

“It was difficult for me after the African Cup of Nations and in the last few months at Roma I lost the joy of playing football, of taking part.

“Now I’m doing well physically and I think that going back to CSKA was the right choice. There were other English clubs interested in me.

“The future? For now I belong to Roma, but I hope that everything goes well and that I remain in Russia. I don’t think I can go back to Roma.”