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The striker was hoping to show his enthusiasm at joining Roma but also managed to insult his former club.
AS Roma's latest acquisition, Artem Dovbyk has stirred controversy with his comments about his former team, Girona.
The 27-year-old Ukrainian striker, who had a standout season in LaLiga last campaign, did not hold back in his first press conference as a Roma player, referring to Girona as a "small team" and sparking backlash from fans of his former club.
Dovbyk’s completes Roma move
After a fantastic 2023-2024 season with Girona that saw Dovbyk score an impressive 24 goals and provide eight assists in 36 matches to win the Pichichi, Roma pounced, signing the Ukrainian striker in the summer transfer window.
Although the details of the transfer were not officially disclosed, Italian media reported that Roma paid approximately €38 million for the Dovbyk with Italian manager Daniele De Rossi, seeking to bolster his attacking options after Romelu Lukaku's return to Chelsea following a loan spell, saw Dovbyk as the ideal addition to the squad.
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His performance played a crucial role in Girona's remarkable third-place finish in LaLiga, but his comments after leaving the club to join Roma would have left a sour taste in the club’s mouth.
Dovbyk's controversial comments
During Dovbyk's unveiling as a Roma player, he made controversial remarks about Girona while trying to express his excitement about joining Roma, saying, "Last season was fantastic for me, but the time had come to take a step forward.
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“[The pressure] will be different. Girona are a small team in Spain; Roma are an important entity in Italy with a lot of history. It won't be the same. I know the pressure will be there, but football without pressure isn't football."
These comments did not sit well with Girona fans, who felt disrespected by Dovbykcalling them a small club as they were seen as dismissive of his former teammates and Girona’s supporters.
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