The news surprised everyone this Thursday evening in Italy. Announced as leaving after two seasons at AS Roma (34 goals, 18 assists in 78 matches), Paulo Dybala finally said no to Al-Qadsiah. Thanks Roma… See you Sunday “, posted the Argentine on his social networks to confirm the news. For those who didn’t understand, Joya stays with us “, added Leandro Paredes. With one year left on his contract with the club of the Louve, Dybala has made a strong choice.
In Saudi Arabia, Al-Qadsiah offered him a three-year contract worth €75 million (with a check for €3-4 million for AS Roma). The 30-year-old attacking midfielder could easily have chosen to accept the last XXL contract of his career. Why did he refuse at the last moment? The Giallorossi fans, however, don’t care to know the reason. Overjoyed at the idea of seeing their number 21 tread the pitch at the Olimpico stadium again, fifty of them didn’t wait for Dybala’s explanations to go to the Roman star’s home to show him their joy, according to the Sports Gazette. However, all the events that occurred yesterday did not suggest that such an outcome would occur.
Roma still have to negotiate with Dybala
Yesterday, Dybala came to the training center, but his coach, Daniele De Rossi, had chosen to have him work only in the gym, in order to avoid any physical problems that could have scuppered the transfer. When he left, the Argentinian signed a few autographs as a farewell to the tifosi who had come especially for him. How did it come to this? In today’s edition, the Sports Gazette gives us some clues. Dybala’s teammates and compatriots, Leandro Paredes and Matías Soulé put on a huge pressure to convince their friend to stay. Then, the player gathered his advisors in the afternoon to sort out the last details of his departure to the Middle East. That’s when he announced to them that he was staying. And the farewell video that was being prepared finally turned into a shock announcement.
AS Roma is also no stranger to this turnaround. The club from La Louve had informed Al-Qadsiah that it was expecting an offer revised upwards. But the Saudis have remained entrenched in their position. Dybala is staying, but be careful, the case is far from over. The Italian daily reminds us that if the Argentinian plays around ten matches with Roma, he will automatically extend his contract until 2026 and will see his salary increase considerably (€9 million, bonuses included). A financial situation that the transalpine team wants to avoid. It is therefore not out of the question that the two parties will negotiate an end to the collaboration in 2025, without an extension.
