A quite incredible claim has emerged from Portuguese outlet Jornal de Notícias, suggesting former NUFC flop and current Sporting Lisbon striker Seydou Doumbia could return to Tyneside this summer.
News from Portugal always has to be taken with a pinch of salt (see previous links to Semedo and Carvalho), but this one should be met with tablespoons of the stuff.
The image to your left is a snippet of the story from ‘Jornal de Notícias’, claiming that Newcastle, Everton and Basel are chasing the striker.
It does seem that the 30-year-old Ivorian will be leaving Sporting this summer, but a return to Newcastle is perhaps his most unlikely destination – even if he’s reportedly available for just €7m.
Some would say he never got a chance on Tyneside, but his spell at St James’ in 2016 really was a total disaster.
The Chronicle revealed recently that Rafa was not impressed with his attitude, with his lack of intensity in training appearing to be one of the main reasons he was rarely included in any matchday squads.
He may have just shy 200 goals in in 342 career appearances, but he played just 29 minutes of football at NUFC, is notoriously known to be a bad trainer, has recently turned 30 and has reoccurring fitness issues.
An amusing rumour, but a player that Benitez will not be pursuing – that I am quite certain of.
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Yep, we talk about giving Armstrong and Mitro a shot because they’re doing so well at a lower level, then dismiss any talk of Doumbia, conveniently ignoring the fact that he has a better strike rate than Shearer and is 6 years younger than Shearer was when he retired.
With our top scorers struggling to get into double figures, here’s a guy who only 2 years ago scored 20 goals in 25 matches.
When we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel and we are looking for another last minute signing to make up the numbers, don’t be too surprised if Doumbia’s name surfaces again.
Rob Brown(Quote)
You seem to keep missing the point that he had a bad attitude and wasn’t interested in training at the intensity Rafa demands..
If you think this is the answer (he’s also 30, has injury issues and hasn’t scored a league goal all season), then you’re missing the whole point of what Rafa’s trying to create here at NUFC.
I see what you’re saying regarding his goal record – I was excited when we signed him – but a lot has changed since then (and he’s also only tended to score those goals at a low standard)
Olly Hawkins(Quote)