Bruges, Celtic, Espanyol, and Southampton are among the interested clubs: the figures are mind-boggling

The clubs showing interest in him are mind-boggling: Bruges, Celtic, Espanyol, Southampton. Imagine the millions being bandied about in the offers: we’re talking double-digit figures, sums unheard of in Serie B. Issa Doumbia is one of the league’s standout players. Italian and European clubs are knocking on Venezia’s door to ask for that 22-year-old with a clean-cut face and a Hercules-like physique who both energizes and shields Giovanni Stoppa’s midfield, with an ability to read the game and make an impact that grows with every match. The coach never leaves him out: 20 appearances in this league, 19 of them as a starter in a now-established position as a central midfielder. Doumbia is one of the idols of the Unione fans, a standout so far with two goals and consistently decisive performances, including during the five-game winning streak—and 25 points earned in the last nine matches—that have propelled the orange-and-green team into sole second place, ahead of their away match on Saturday, January 24, in Mantua. His runs are impressive; taking the ball off his feet is a feat. He is the heart of a midfield that has Kike Perez as its perpetual engine, Gianluca Busio as a jack-of-all-trades, and Alfred Duncan as a luxury substitute. Few teams possess such quality in the middle.

So far, the club has always turned down anyone who has come knocking for him. He is a talent who needs to be nurtured and protected; he can and must continue to grow. For now, he remains in Venice, at least until the end of the season, and then we’ll see. Filippo Antonelli is reaping the rewards of the intuition he had two years ago when he scouted him out in Serie C at AlbinoLeffe. He negotiated with president Gianfranco Andreoletti and sporting director Antonio Obbedio, outmaneuvered the competition from Atalanta Under-23, Juventus Next Gen, Monza, and Triestina, secured the player in January 2024, and signed him in the summer for one million plus bonuses. He had him sign a long-term contract, running through June 2029. Last season, in Serie A, Eusebio Di Francesco began shaping him for the top level: a few appearances off the bench right away, then his debut as a starter against Verona, with a finishing error that could have discouraged him but which the young player worked on until he carved out increasingly important roles in the second half of the season, with eight starts and a standout performance as a right-sided midfielder on the final matchday against Juventus. During the same period, he also had his first experiences with Italy’s Under-21 team, making two appearances in March friendlies against the Netherlands (at the Penzo) and Denmark, and most notably earning a call-up for the European Championship, where he started in the 1-1 draw against Spain. By the end of the summer, Doumbia’s valuation had already surpassed two million euros. Today, it’s already over six million, but the feeling is that the rise won’t stop here.

ROOTS—  Born in Treviglio to a family of Ivorian origin, Doumbia grew up in Zingonia. He inherited his passion for soccer from his father, a truck driver. He is very close to his older brother, Mamadou, who works in public relations and is friends with Rafa Leao. Issa has played for AlbinoLeffe since he was a youth player. He grew up with his friend Mohamed Alì Zoma, who is now learning the ropes as a forward at Miroslav Klose’s Nuremberg in Bundesliga 2. The Bergamo-based club has supported Issa’s development, found him an apartment in Zanica, and helped him believe in himself and in the prospect of a professional career. The interest from a Serie B club has made him more responsible, and today in Venice he is becoming an important player. The calls are strong, from Italy and across Europe. Venezia hopes to hold on to him a little longer. Perhaps even in Serie A.