Dybala Opens Up About His Decision to Stay Put at Roma

Paulo Dybala commented on his decision to turn down the offer from Al-Qadsiah talking to various outlets following the disappointing loss to Empoli in the second Serie A round (via Corriere dello Sport).

“Everybody looks at the money, but I put many things on the table to come to my decision: my family, my wife, the city, the team, and my desire to return to the national team. I’m 30 and feel good. I’ve seen a lot of criticism about the injuries, but I try to work hard every day to take care of myself and perform the best I can.”

Dybala admitted some hesitancy.

“Surely, when you see that kind of figure… I can’t say I didn’t think about it, but I weighed a few aspects. It made no difference to my agent. It’s not true that he would have made a lot of money. The most important thing for him is my happiness. We’ve collaborated for a long time. I don’t know how the Arabs reacted as I didn’t speak with them directly.”

Dybala addressed the defeat and Daniele De Rossi.

“It’s up to him to decide the scheme and how to play. I’ve never felt outside of his project. He chooses where and for how long I’ll be on the pitch. That goes for me and my teammates. We have many newcomers, and we’re trying to getting used to each other quickly. There’s no time since we already left five points on the table. The gaffer evaluates what’s best for the team daily. It’s fair that everybody has to earn the starting job. I think that those who practice the best should be in the XI. That’s not one of the reasons that made me consider leaving.”