It won't be just another match for Paulo Dybala. It can never be when the Argentine faces Juventus and reckons with his past. A past that brought him many joys (5 league titles), but also several disappointments. Not just from a sporting perspective, but also how his relationship with the Old Lady ended, the club that back in 2015 had bought him from Palermo and made him one of the best forwards in Europe.
Dybala crosses paths with Juventus
The image of Dybala's last goodbye to the Bianconeri fans, filled with tears and sadness, is the perfect representation of what Juventus has meant for the Argentine. Now, however, his present is with Roma, and on Sunday at the Olimpico, he must try to convert these emotions into performance on the field. Who knows how many thoughts will lodge in the mind of 'La Joya' tomorrow on the Olimpico's turf. But his left foot must shine above all else, because Roma greatly needs it to get back on track and secure a Champions League spot.
The journey at Juventus
Dybala's journey at Juventus was splendid for long stretches, not only for the trophies won (5 league titles, 3 Italian Super Cups, 4 Coppa Italia) but also for his tactical growth. Arriving in Turin after seasons at Palermo as a striker, Allegri turned him almost into a playmaker, a perfect creator for his teammates but also a goal scorer. Not by chance, his numbers speak of a player capable of scoring and assisting others: 115 goals and 48 assists in 293 appearances with the Bianconeri jersey (ninth all-time top scorer for Juve, tied with Baggio). He was not present in the Champions League final lost by Juve against Barcelona, but he was in the one for the 2016-17 season against Real Madrid, which perhaps remains the biggest disappointment of his career. However, his cross to bear has been injuries, mainly muscular, which often slowed him down for long periods. In the last years, they have become almost a torment, so much so that in the 2020-21 season he played just 20 matches.
The ordeal of injuries and rebirth at Roma
It seemed like a descending parabola for 'La Joya', who, however, took advantage of the call from José Mourinho, landing in Roma in the summer of 2022. A legendary welcome, the one reserved for him by the Giallorossi fans at the square Colosseum, which immediately ignited a new flame in the Argentine. Shortly after, came the World Cup victory with Argentina (although not as a protagonist). In the Giallorossi jersey, Dybala has shone again, leaving behind numerous physical problems: 38 appearances, 18 goals, and 8 assists in his first season in the capital, with the Europa League narrowly missed thanks to his goal scored in the final.
This year he has already played 36 matches across all competitions, increasing his Serie A goal tally; 13 compared to 12 in the first year. This season he has recorded 16 goals with at least 5 matches to play until the end of the season. Mourinho had made him the center of his Roma but often forced him into a tactical work quite taxing for his characteristics. De Rossi has maintained his centrality, but by raising his center of gravity and bringing him closer to the goal; a choice perfectly suited to allow him to shine even more. Sunday he is expected to put on a great performance against 'his' Juventus, against his former teammates and against his former coach who has given him so much but also received a lot from his immense class.
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