A Juventus without Paulo Dybala was once an unfathomable potentiality for many Juventino. The idea of La Joya departing Turin for absolutely nothing was a thought that the majority cast aside due to its likely impossibility.
At the start of the 2021/22 campaign, Dybala, determined to lead the Bianconeri once more following the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, was entering the final year of his contract. Financial mismanagement in the years prior meant that striking a deal with the Argentine, who seemed intent on becoming the club’s highest earner, was no easy feat, but the club were desperate to retain him.
Alongside the blossoming Federico Chiesa and ever-evolving Matthijs de Ligt, Dybala was the star of a transitioning Bianconeri and it was he who initially had all the leverage in contract negotiations.
Dybala’s productive start to the season further emphasised his value and in October, Juve gave into the player’s demands by offering him a lucrative long-term deal worth a reported €10m-a-year. But, paradoxically, that agreement would prove to be the turning point in negotiations. From that moment on, Dybala drifted further and further away from the Bianconeri as the club, spooked by the player’s injury woes, pulled out of the deal.
Gradually, the concept of La Joya leaving Turin as a free agent became plausible, then possible before inevitability arose. Acceptance had overcome the fanbase and on Monday, the final nail was delivered candidly by Maurizio Arrivabene.
4 positives from Paulo Dybala leaving Juventus at the end of the season
But a once frightening possibility doesn’t seem all so bad in reality. Here are four positives from Dybala moving on at the end of the 2021/22 season.
No financial risk
Despite his stellar form at the start of the season, handing Dybala a lucrative long-term extension was a huge financial risk considering his increasing availability woes. The Bianconeri couldn’t afford to pay top dollar for a player that simply couldn’t be relied upon.
They were right to pull out back in October and as time passed, the club became less and less convinced of La Joya’s potential to lead their rebuild. Massimiliano Allegri coped admirably in his absence and Arrivabene all but confirmed on Monday that Dusan Vlahovic’s arrival lessened Juve’s desperation for Dybala to extend.
While they are completely different profiles, Juventus feel they’ve got their new protagonist and by refusing to give in to the Argentine’s demands, they’re in a stronger financial position to build the squad around the likes of Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa.