Decision on Dybala is coming up shortly

Paulo Dybala’s welcome in Rome was one of the most spectacular not only in the history of the Roman club, but in all of European football. Thousands of fans crowded the streets to greet the Argentine, who arrived as a free agent after seven years spent at hated Juventus, and to show him that he had not made a mistake by choosing Roma over Inter.

Expectations for La Joya were enormous, but despite perfectly solid numbers — 122 matches, 44 goals, 23 assists — it cannot be said that he fulfilled them. There were no trophies, no Champions League appearances, and injuries kept piling up. In such a situation, a net salary of 8,000,000 euros a year has become too heavy a burden for the club. And with Dybala’s contract expiring next June, talk is growing louder that the cooperation between Roma and the 32-year-old forward will not be extended.

Man Utd hold Zirkzee hostage: Serie A heavyweights beg for his January release

Italian media report that Dybala’s contract will be near the top of sporting director Frederic Massara’s priorities during the January transfer window. Much will depend on medical reports, but also on Dybala’s willingness to accept a pay cut — especially since he has an open invitation from Buenos Aires to join Boca Juniors and reunite with former teammate and close friend Leandro Paredes.

Dybala hasn't scored in eight months

Caught up in the emotions of Boca’s big win over River Plate, Paredes’s father, Daniel, recently offered the Argentine media what could be an exclusive scoop.

“In Paulo beats a Boca heart and he wants to come. I heard him with my own ears telling friends that he will come. He will come, and the two of them will play together again. And his daughter will be a Boca supporter and will watch her dad play at La Bombonera” Daniel Paredes said excitedly, referring to the fact that Dybala’s wife, Oriana Sabatini, is pregnant and that the Argentine will become a father for the first time in 2026. Whether as a player of Roma, Boca, or perhaps some third club — that remains to be seen.

ITALY SERIE A ROUND 12

Saturday

17.00: (2.85) Cagliari (2.95) Genoa (2.75)

17.00: (3.60) Udinese (3.25) Bologna (2.15)

20.00: (4.00) Fiorentina (3.50) Juventus (2.05)

22.45: (2.25) Napoli (3.45) Atalanta (3.45)

Sunday

14.30: (2.35) Verona (3.10) Parma (3.55)

17.00: (5.90) Cremonese (3.70) Roma (1.63)

20.00: (1.65) Lazio (3.60) Lecce (6.00)

22.45: (1.95) Inter (3.60) Milan (4.20)

Monday

20.30: (3.50) Torino (3.20) Como (2.30)

22.45: (2.05) Sassuolo (3.35) Pisa (3.80)

***odds are subject to change