Artem Dovbyk, the Ukrainian striker who arrived in Bologna on loan from Roma with a €20 million option to buy, has not yet had the opportunity to establish himself in Serie A. Despite the hope of a return to the top, coach Gianluca Palladino continued to give priority to Christian Odgaard, who proved to be more suited to the center forward role, and to Roberto Piccoli and Enem, who occupied the majority of the club's offensive positions.
The situation emerged from the first day of the season. Dovbyk's equalizing goal against Sassuolo seemed like a sign of rebirth, but his impact remained isolated. The striker had to deal with a series of muscular problems that kept him off the pitch for more than a year, interrupting his continuity and limiting his chances of being included in the starting lineup. Even after his return against Lecce, Palladino did not include him in the main line-up, preferring to continue to give space to Piccoli and Enem.
For this afternoon's match against Cagliari, the choice was even clearer: with the former Fiorentina player unavailable and Enem in less than optimal form, the Campania coach entrusted Odgaard with the role of false nine. This decision highlights Palladino's lack of trust in Dovbyk, despite his loan with option to buy status. The Ukrainian player, who arrived in Bologna in an expensive deal, is now considered the fourth choice in the attack.
At the moment, Dovbyk's prospect at Bologna seems unrealistic. With only a fifth of the season having passed and without ever having played as a starter, the player's future seems closer to Roma, where he was born, than to the Campania club. His stay in Bologna, although technically possible thanks to the right to buy, appears unlikely as the club does not consider him a key element of the offensive project. The season continues and Dovbyk's future remains uncertain, but his current situation means he will likely have to look for new opportunities outside of Serie A.