Roma forward Seydou Doumbia says he is open to a move back to CSKA Moscow following a disappointing loan spell with Newcastle United.
Ivory Coast international Doumbia, 28, still has three years left to run on his contract at Roma, where he struggled to make his mark after joining from CSKA.
He was subsequently loaned back to the Russian club, for whom he scored five goals in 13 league appearances and a further three in the Champions League, before joining Newcastle in the winter.
He said the experience in the Premier League has strengthened him, even if he only featured three times for Newcastle, making just one brief substitute appearance after Rafa Benitez replaced Steve McClaren in March.
"It wasn't a mistake moving to England," he told bobsoccer.ru. "It was certainly an interesting experience, even if it wasn't positive. Of course it didn't go exactly how I would have liked it to but in football, like in life, every experience is useful.
"I was not in bad shape, but it just didn't look like I was part of Rafa Benitez's plans. But I cannot complain. The coach makes the choices he feels are right."
Doumbia now hopes to prove himself in Italy in the coming season.
"As you know, I'm still contracted to Roma," he said. "I hope to be in top form come the start of the season. I'm motivated and I want to play. Certainly I'm in good shape, even if I hardly played at Newcastle -- I still trained all the time."
If he cannot convince Roma boss Luciano Spalletti of his worth, he would consider a return to Russia.
"Of course anything is possible in football," he said. "Why should I rule out returning to CSKA? They are a big club and I had some great moments in Moscow. I'm very grateful to the club and the team and I still have a lot of friends there whom I will definitely go visit."
