Transfer Market: Ruben Amorim Nearly 'Stole' a Reinforcement from Sporting

Issa Doumbia, the 22-year-old Italian midfielder, signed by Sporting from Venezia in the last transfer window, quickly transitioned from a promising prospect to a pivotal figure in Sporting's midfield.

Now, Roberto Mancini's call-up to the Italian national team has validated Sporting's early assessment, identifying his potential before other clubs. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, AC Milan also considered entering the race for the player. The key difference, they report, was reaction time: Sporting moved swiftly, finalizing the deal before the Milanese club could turn their interest into a concrete offer.

The transfer began to take shape after Doumbia's exceptional season with Venezia. The Treviglio-born midfielder was instrumental in the club's campaign that saw them return to Serie A, finishing the season with ten goals and six assists – numbers that put him on the radar of several clubs.

The Italian daily highlighted the competition from various clubs and Sporting's ability to act preemptively, tabling an offer of 20 million euros, plus an additional six million in performance-related add-ons.

The signing gained even more prominence with Mancini's recent squad announcement. Doumbia is included in the manager's first list since his return to lead Italy, featuring among the new faces in a 34-player call-up. This marks the Sporting midfielder's first senior national team call-up, having previously represented Italy at youth levels.