Artem Dovbyk: I Didn't Expect Such a Big Difference Between La Liga and Serie A
AS Roma striker Artem Dovbyk has opened up about the challenges he faced during his debut season in Serie A, admitting he underestimated the defensive intensity of Italian football.
The Ukrainian international joined Roma in the summer of 2024 from Girona, after a breakout season in La Liga. But despite being Spanish championship top scorer, Dovbyk says Serie A took him by surprise.
“When I moved to Italy, I didn’t expect there to be such a big difference,” he said in an interview with the YouTube channel of Ukrainian journalist Ihor Tsyhanyk. “I thought defenders in top leagues would be more or less the same. I played against Barcelona, Real, Atletico – the defenders there were tough, but manageable. In Italy, it’s another story. You can have three or four defenders chasing you the entire match. It doesn’t matter where you run – someone’s always on your heels, pulling at your legs.”
Dovbyk highlighted the physicality of the Italian game as a major shift from his time in Spain. “You really feel the difference, especially when crosses come in from the wings. The defender doesn’t even look at the ball – his only goal is to stop you from moving. Sure, there’s VAR, but they still beat you up. After every match, I leave the pitch covered in scratches and bruises.”
Looking ahead, the 26-year-old forward left the door open for a longer stay in the Italian capital. “Do I want to stay at Roma? A new head coach is coming in. If he shows that I’m part of his plans, that I’m important to him and to AS Roma, then yes – I’d love to stay. I’ve got five years left on my contract. I like the stadium, the fans, the support – everything here suits me.”
