Dovbyk: “I’m not the new Lukaku, here’s why I chose Roma over Atletico Madrid”

New Roma striker Artem Dovbyk has expressed his eagerness to make a significant impact at his new club. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Dovbyk shared insights into his decision-making process and his aspirations with Roma.

Dovbyk revealed that his choice to join Roma was heavily influenced by a conversation with Dan Friedkin, the club’s owner. “I decided after speaking with Dan Friedkin. I had good feelings; he made me feel important by telling me what he expected from me. I also spoke with De Rossi and Ghisolfi, which was important. In the past, I had never spoken with club owners, and this was significant. They explained the long-term project to me. I believe in them, and they believe in me. Roma is investing a lot and wants to achieve great things. I know the future will be bright,” he stated.

Addressing the nickname “The Machine,” Dovbyk explained, “Because I like working out in the gym, and my teammates often saw me there, they decided to call me that.”

When asked about comparisons to Romelu Lukaku, Dovbyk was clear: “Romelu is one of the greatest forwards in Europe. But I am not the new Lukaku, I am Artem Dovbyk. I want to do my best and be appreciated for what I can do.”

Dovbyk also discussed why he turned down Atletico Madrid, saying, “It wasn’t the right project for me because the relationship we had wasn’t the best; some people wanted me, and others didn’t. I didn’t feel the confidence, unlike with Roma. This is the right club; it has ambition and hunger. Plus, there’s a beautiful stadium, a wonderful city, and fantastic fans. I had only been to Rome once during the last European Championship. But it was during the coronavirus period, and I was with the national team. I was there for three days and saw some things. I’ll make up for it soon.”

Reflecting on his achievements, Dovbyk mentioned the Pichichi trophy: “It’s a trophy that gives me even more certainty. I have to thank Girona, my teammates, and the coach who believed in me. At the start of the season, no one would have bet on me achieving it, but I showed that anything is possible in football. Thanks also to my family.”

He also recalled advice from Andriy Shevchenko: “I didn’t speak to him before coming to Italy, but when he was my coach in the national team, he always told me that I needed to improve physically and in my movements if I wanted to play in one of the top five European leagues. I took his advice to heart and worked hard.”

Looking ahead to important matches, Dovbyk promised, “Everyone knows how important it is, both for the fans and the club. I can only promise that I will give my all to win this match. I have a number of goals in mind, but I won’t say it. We must return to the Champions League: it’s a very important goal that we must achieve at all costs. Roma has been absent for too long.”

Finally, Dovbyk expressed admiration for Daniele De Rossi: “I like his mentality; he’s hungry, ambitious, and tries to improve you. With him, you work intensely, and I’m sure he will help me grow even more. I want to show how much I’m worth. Before me, there were Shevchenko, Malinovskyi, and Kovalenko in Italy. Now it’s my turn.”