How much will Dybala earn at Roma?
According to reports, José Mourinho has charmed Paulo Dybala into agreeing to join Roma on a free transfer after his Juventus contract expired.
Paulo Dybala has made his decision: the Argentina forward has agreed to join Roma. Following a week of negotiations between the player’s representatives and the Roma heirarchy, the persuasive powers of José Mourinho were key to the deal being pushed through in time for Dybala to link up with the squad in Portugal for pre-season. Dybala, 28, had been heavily linked with a move to Inter Milan, but the nerazzurri have already signed Romelu Lukaku on loan and needed to shift one or preferably two of Alexis Sánchez, Joaquín Correa and Edin Dzeko to make room and free up funds. Napoli were also interested but will now turn their attention to Udinese winger Gerard Deulofeu.
Roma were able to offer Dybala a significant financial offer (the Argentinean’s salary will reportedly be around €6 million plus bonuses) and the player was eager to get the deal done as quickly as possible so as not to miss any more of the preseason. Mourinho’s personal phone calls helped to smooth the transfer through and it is anticipated that an official announcement will be made on Monday.
Dybala to lead Mourinho’s Champions League charge
Landing Dybala is quite the coup for Mourinho, who committed his future to Roma despite interest from elsewhere after leading the Stadio Olimpico side to the Conference League title last season. The Portuguese has set his sights on Champions League qualification this season and Dybala will certainly be an asset as Roma look to step up a gear in Serie A. The Argentinean will inherit Francesco Totti’s mantle at Roma, if not the retired number 10 of the giallorossi great, after the club’s greatest modern player asked in May that Dybala be made a priority.