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The candidates for Paulo Dybala’s signature this summer – ranked

By James Cormack

TURIN, ITALY - DECEMBER 05: Paulo Dybala of Juventus celebrates after scoring to give the side a 2-0 lead during the Serie A match between Juventus v Genoa CFC at on December 05, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - DECEMBER 05: Paulo Dybala of Juventus celebrates after scoring to give the side a 2-0 lead during the Serie A match between Juventus v Genoa CFC at on December 05, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images) /
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It’s been a little while since the news broke of Paulo Dybala leaving Juventus at the end of the season.

On the balance, many believe that the club have made the right choice by not extending the magical Argentine, but there’s no denying that Dybala will be sorely missed in Piedmont. He added a hint of romance to the innately gritty Old Lady, just as Michel Platini, Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Del Piero did during their respective eras.

However, Juve’s number ten is among a dying breed of footballers. Just as it was for much of the 90s following Arrigo Sacchi’s un-Italian revolution in Milan, the off the cuff and languid playmaker has once again been maligned by the archetypal modern-day coach.

And that’s what makes Dybala’s future so intriguing. At Juventus, La Joya was given free rein by Massimiliano Allegri to contribute how he desired, and Turin, with Allegri at the helm, seemed like the ideal destination for the Argentine to prolong his career at the highest level.

Paulo Dybala’s next club candidates – ranked

It’ll be tough for other coaches to tailor their systems around Dybala, as gifted as he is with the ball at his feet. Thus, it’s difficult to predict where he’ll end up as a free agent this summer. There’s no doubting that the club that picks him up will be taking a pretty substantial risk.

Here’s a ranking of five possible Paulo Dybala suitors.

Tottenham Hotspur

Paulo Dybala isn’t a good fit for Antonio Conte’s Spurs. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Paulo Dybala isn’t a good fit for Antonio Conte’s Spurs. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images) /

Tottenham fans are still hurting from the image rights debacle of 2019. Spurs came so close to signing a disgruntled Dybala in the wake of their Champions League final defeat to Liverpool and the Lilywhites have been on a downward spiral ever since.

Well, that was until Fabio Paratici was appointed as managing director last summer and Antonio Conte subsequently arrived as manager in November following Nuno Espirito Santo’s disastrous reign. While they’ve been plagued by inconsistency, Conte’s automated ideals are starting to manifest and the additions of two Juventus cast-offs, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, have been key to their improvement.

So, could they add another Bianconeri reject to their ranks this summer?

The idea of bringing in Dybala on a free transfer for nothing this summer has Spurs fans salivating once more. But the Argentine’s evolved considerably since 2019 and he’s simply not a good fit for Conte’s Spurs. An increasingly frail La Joya isn’t built for the rigours of the Premier League and the demanding nature of the Spurs boss.

The Italian’s strict automated patterns compromise the ingenious and free-spirited Dybala, who loves to roam when his side have possession. So, while the Lilywhites faithful have fallen in love with the concept of the magical Dybala, I don’t believe it’ll be so fruitful in actuality.

It’s just not a good fit.

Suitability Rating: 3/10

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