Artem Dovbyk has chosen Casteldebole over Ukraine during the international break, a difficult decision for a forward who regards representing his country as a duty as much as a football honour. But with Bologna’s season already demanding urgency after five league matches, the striker has put recovery first.
The coach and the club
Dovbyk has withdrawn from the Ukraine squad as he continues to recover from the muscular problem that ruled him out of Bologna’s match against Torino. He spent days considering the call-up before deciding that he could not properly help his national team in its first two fixtures and might expose himself to another injury just as he is approaching full fitness.
The former Roma forward discussed the matter with Ukraine coach Andrea Maldera and the national-team officials, as well as Bologna’s leadership. The decision was welcomed in Emilia, where Dovbyk is viewed as a major part of Raffaele Palladino’s plans.
During the break, the 28-year-old will combine some sessions with the squad with individual work. The programme is intended to improve the movements that are still causing him difficulty after the injury.
Palladino and Dovbyk hope that the forward can be close to his best when Bologna return to Serie A action away to Lecce. It is a fixture with considerable weight for a side whose early position has created pressure, even if the calendar is still at its beginning.
A recovery with a wider meaning
Had the season ended last Sunday, Bologna would have gone down to Serie B. Only five rounds have been played, leaving ample time to change the direction of the campaign, but the visit to Lecce cannot be treated lightly. A poor result would damage both the table and the mood before Inter arrive in the following league match.
Roberto Piccoli produced an encouraging display against Torino last Saturday, yet Bologna remain eager to have Dovbyk available at an important level. The club do not present one player as the answer to every problem, but they regard the Ukrainian as an extra resource in a squad that needs goals and authority in the coming weeks.
That belief was central to the deal that sent Santiago Castro to Roma and brought Dovbyk to Bologna. The Rossoblù accepted that they might need to wait for him, aware of the significant physical issue he had previously experienced and of the long spell on the bench that followed last season.
Now the work is being done quietly at Casteldebole, with Lecce the immediate target. Bologna want to see the real Dovbyk begin his season there.
