After serving the Old Lady for seven years, Paulo Dybala’s time at Juventus has reached an anti-climatic end. The Argentine had his fair share of injury setbacks in the past couple of years, and the Bianconeri weren’t willing to meet his contractual demands. Whether the management was right or wrong in its assessment no longer matters. That’s in the past now, and in the present day, La Joya needs to find himself a new destination. Although the suitors aren’t exactly queuing up for his services, the 28-year-old remains one of the hottest commodities on the free agents market, and his elusive talent surely warrants the attention of some of the big boys in Italy and abroad. So let’s take a look at some of his most likely suitors who could pursue Dybala this summer before trying to identify his ideal destination.
Inter
What was reported to be a “done deal” in the past weeks seems to be far less certain at the moment. Inter decided to put the Argentine’s pursuit on hold while accelerating the process of Romelu Lukaku’s return. It’s actually the Nerazzurri’s uncertainty that reopened the whole debate regarding the player’s future.
But even if Giuseppe Marotta and company opt to resume the negotiations, should Dybala accept the switch while knowing that he could serve second-fiddle for the reunited golden duo of Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez?
Inter might present the most lucrative wages and the chance to win silverware, but perhaps it won’t be an ideal choice from a sporting standpoint.
Milan
Following the Beneamata’s snub, their crosstown rivals emerged to the scene according to the latest reports. However, the Rossoneri might lack the financial means to come forward with an enticing offer.
Nonetheless, Dybala to Milan makes too much sense from a tactical point of view that Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara should at least give it a try.
Stefano Pioli’s 4-2-3-1 lineup currently lacks a genuine number 10 who can play in the hole, and Dybala would be the perfect candidate for the role.
Roma
Roma legend Francesco Totti has been teasing the idea recently, but what matters the most is what José Mourinho, Tiago Pinto and the rest of the Giallorossi management have in store for next summer.
Reminiscent to Milan’s case. Roma re-entered the race for Dybala following the latest developments concerning Inter and Lukaku, but would the Italian capital be the right destination for La Joya?
Perhaps if Nicolò Zaniolo gets sold for a hefty fee, the club’s coffers would be able to afford the wages of the former Palermo star. But don’t expect Roma to break the bank for any player.
Atletico Madrid
Now we begin with the options abroad. Although Atletico Madrid aren’t exactly frontrunners in the race, the club’s name repeatedly pops up from time to time.
Dybala would find his compatriot Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital, but this definitely isn’t enough to guarantee success, as his good friend Rodrigo De Paul would testify.
While the idea might be tempting, the Colchoneros‘ fighting style of football might not suit the 28-year-old who almost exclusively relies on his flair and technical prowess.
Real Madrid
Now this is a link that came out of the blue in the last 24 hours, with emerging news suggesting that Atletico isn’t the line side in the Spanish capital that’s on the attacker’s trail.
The report claims that Real Madrid could enter the fray for Dybala if Marco Asensio leaves this summer, with Carlo Ancelotti being a fan of the Argentine.
Interesting.
Arsenal
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta absolutely adores talented ballers, and La Joya’ arrival would be met by an euphoria in North London.
Yet, the Gunners felt short in their top four battle last season, which means no Champions League football at the Emirates Stadium for another year.
Despite their improvement last campaign, Arsenal are still a side incapable of challenging for the biggest honors, and Dybala shouldn’t expect too many silverware if he joins Arteta’s court.
Tottenham Hotspur
With Fabio Paratici in charge of the transfers, the former Juventus sporting director might try to launch an attempt to reunite with the Argentina international.
Antonio Conte might also be a fan of the player, but in his current 3-4-3 setup, it’s hard to see where Dybala would properly fit.
Perhaps he’ll challenge his former teammate Dejan Kulusevski for a role at the right wing, but the young Swede has been showcasing his massive abilities while occupying the role that absolutely suits his characteristics.
Dybala, on the other hand, is far from being a natural winger.
Verdict
Despite the recent halt in the negotiations, many still believe that Inter remains the most likely destination for Dybala at the moment. However, the way the management snubbed him in favor of another signing could foreshadow how his time at the club would play out.
Simone Inzaghi simply loves his 3-5-2 lineup, and with the pre-existing chemistry between Lukaku and Lautaro, the departing Juventus man would find himself in front of an uphill battle, which is why is should be looking elsewhere.
However, there appear to be hurdles every where we look. For instance, Roma won’t be able to meet his contractual demands, nor would they be able to offer Champions League football – which is also the case for Arsenal.
While a move to Madrid is definitely tempting, Atletico’s style might not suit him at all, while Los Blancos would field him on the right wing, which is far from being his ideal position. The same can be said for Tottenham Hotspur.
All in all, Milan sounds the like the perfect destination which would allow Dybala to prolong his stay in his adopted nation while acting as a Trequartista in Pioli’s 4-2-3-1 system, which is exactly the role that he was born to play.
So will the Rossoneri be able to pull off such massive coup? The next few weeks should reveal the answer.