Paulo Dybala, first words as a Giallorossi player and first twist of fate

No ’10’ for La Joya

Paulo Dybala, who is close to becoming a new Roma player after nearly three weeks as a free agent following the expiration of his contract with Juventus, spoke his first words as a Giallorossi player on the sidelines of medical examinations in Albufeira, where the team is in training camp.

“Everything went well, I’m very happy,” La Joya said, “Roma is a good team, I’m sure. Meanwhile, according to reports from ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport,’ La Joya has reportedly politely declined the possibility, on which there was the okay of Francesco Totti himself, to wear the number 10 jersey. The Argentine will take the number 21, vacated by Matic who will take the 8.

Dybala arrives at Roma after a long telenovela that on several occasions had seemed to end with the former Juve man landing at Inter. The Nerazzurri, however, never sunk the blow, while the Giallorossi worked in the background, also taking advantage of the appeal of Jose Mourinho, who had personally called Dybala himself to convince him to wear the Giallorossi jersey.