The rise and fall of Paulo Dybala from Lionel Messi’s successor and serial Serie A champion to Tottenham transfer target

PAULO DYBALA was once heralded as the next Lionel Messi.

Unfortunately for him, Messi had no intention of abdicating his crown as the king of Argentine football any time soon.

And now a stumbling career will see Dybala released by Juventus as a free agent this summer – with the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United the frontrunners to land him.

Yes, the 28-year-old has still enjoyed a largely successful career in Italy with five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italias and a Champions League final in seven seasons with Juventus.

But it certainly has fallen well short of the heights many expected – and Dybala hoped – it would hit.

Born in Laguna Larga in Cordoba, Argentina’s second city, Dybala’s surname links back to his grandfather Boleslaw Dybala, a Pole who fled his homeland during World War II and settled in South America.

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But it was the side of his mother he followed by ending up in Italy – with his great-grandmother from Naples.

He earned a move to Palermo after nine years with Instituto in his home city.

Dybala joined the club’s academy aged ten in 2003 and made his professional debut for the first team at 17.

His record-breaking prowess – as the youngest goalscorer, playing 38 consecutive league games, hitting two hat-tricks in the same season AND scoring in six straight matches – quickly earned him plenty of attention in Argentina.

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His nickname was ‘La Joya’ – ‘The Jewel’ – and he was soon tipped as his country’s next big shining diamond, certain to follow in the footsteps of Messi and Sergio Aguero.

So it was little surprise he made the £7million transfer to Europe still aged just 18, using his Italian ancestry to facilitate the deal and ready to show the rest of the world his talent.

Three seasons with Palermo saw 21 goals in 93 appearances, a relegation, a promotion and a spot in Don Balon’s top 100 most promising young footballers.

Juve came calling for an initial £26m in 2015 and, after previously turning down youth call-ups, he made his senior Argentina debut in October.

Dybala started out as a left-winger with Instituto but his versatility saw him operate across the attacking positions – a perfect utility man but that meant he was not the No1 in any one given role.

Arguably his best position is as a centre-forward or supporting the attack off the right flank but his stature and strengths meant Argentina’s managers – or Barcelona – rarely wanted both him and Messi in the side.

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Both players have claimed it is ‘difficult’ to play alongside each other or build an on-pitch partnership because they want to operate in the same areas of the pitch – and Dybala was criticised for his comments before Messi backed him up.

That has seen him become somewhat of a maligned figure in Argentine football with just two goals in 32 caps – instead, the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Angel Correa and now Julian Alvarez are taking centre stage.

The trio, as well as Messi, Aguero and Angel Di Maria, were all part of the successful 2021 Copa America squad as Dybala watched his compatriots lift the trophy from home.

At club level, Dybala enjoyed his best season in 2017-18 with 26 goals in 43 games.

But the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo that summer saw him shifted away from his productive centre-forward role.

Gonzalo Higuain’s return, then Alvaro Morata, Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic all arriving – coupled with loss of form and injuries – has seen his goals dry up somewhat with ten, 17, five and 13 this term going into the March international break.

Ironically Dybala is Juventus’ top scorer this season but, even so, his spell at the Old Lady is fizzling out to a disappointing end.

Paulo’s position was no longer at the centre of the project

Juventus CEO Maurizio Arrivabene

The club are well off the pace in Serie A and were dumped out of the Champions League in humiliating fashion by Villarreal – although they could win yet another Coppa Italia.

After more injury woes and a reported training group bust-up with boss Max Allegri, Juventus CEO Maurizio Arrivabene said: “The most important change is that Juventus have not renewed Paulo Dybala’s contract.

“With the purchases made in January, with the arrival of Vlahovic, Paulo’s position was no longer at the centre of the project.

“The decision is made. Today’s meeting was friendly, clear and respectful.”

A free transfer to Tottenham appears the most likely next step as things stand – three years on from a last-minute collapse on a £65m switch to North London – while United may consider an offer to bolster their under-performing attack.

Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, PSG and even Arsenal are also outside bets.

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Regardless of where he ends up, though, Dybala must knuckle down and accept this is the direction his career that promised so much has taken.

Then it will be time to rediscover his sparkling form and live up to his nickname once again.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk