Noteworthy turnaround in the “case” of Paulo Dybala: The Argentinian world champion is not moving to Saudi Arabia after all – and announces this in a cheeky message to Roma fans
Everything was set. Paulo Dybala had already said goodbye to his team-mates on Thursday and the official Serie A photo session took place without the Argentinian. According to media reports, the plane had also already been booked to complete his transfer to Saudi Arabia.
The three-year contract until June 30, 2027 with promoted Al-Qadisiya would have reportedly earned Dybala a whopping 75 (!) million euros. However, the transfer fell through on the home straight. One version of the story sees Roma’s transfer fee of 17 million euros, which is too low, as the sticking point. The other is that Dybala had a rethink and, according to Sky Sport Italia, the emotional farewell to his teammates and his wife’s veto are said to have prompted him to reject the offer.
After the news leaked out and the first fans had apparently already gathered outside Dybala’s house in Roma, the fan favorite with a contract until June 30, 2025 spoke out himself. Dybala uploaded an almost one-minute video to Instagram – with highlights from his time in Rome and a caption at the end: “Grazie Roma”. The decisive addition followed in the text field below: “See you on Sunday. “
Now side by side with Soulé
The 38-time Argentina international (three goals) is staying in Rome. Roma had already signed a legitimate successor to Dybala in compatriot Matias Soulé at the end of July. The 21-year-old Argentine top talent was worth over 25 million euros to the Giallorossi. In 36 Serie A appearances for Frosinone, where Juventus Turin had loaned him out, the dribbling attacker was directly involved in 14 goals. Dybala made 28 Serie A appearances in the 2023/24 season, in which he even contributed 22 scoring points (13 goals, nine assists).
In future, the Argentines could play together for Roma. They already did so in the final 20 minutes of the Serie A opener against Cagliari Calcio (0:0), when Dybala significantly livened up the game after coming on as a substitute
