Chelsea join the race: Ranking the contenders to sign Dybala on a Bosman Transfer

FT Desk

• Updated: 29 Mar 2022 14:43 BST
• 5 min read

Paulo Dybala will leave Juventus on a Bosman Transfer this summer.

The Argentine star’s contract in Turin expires at the end of the season and the club have confirmed that he will depart on a Free Transfer on July 1.

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Juventus and Dybala had agreed a new contract worth around €10 million a year towards the end of 2021 but pen was never put to paper officially.

Juventus then attempted to change the terms as they were concerned by Dybala’s constant injury problems – he has suffered his six physical problems in 2021-22.

Eventually, after weeks of delayed talks, Juventus decided not to renew Dybala's contract.

“The most important change is that Juventus have not renewed Paulo Dybala’s contract,” Juventus CEO Maurizio Arrivabene confirmed in the middle of March.

“With the purchases made in January, with the arrival of Dusan Vlahovic, Paulo’s position was no longer at the centre of the project. That’s why this kind of decision was preferred.

“The parameters were different, I had already spoken about it, no one has ever questioned Paulo’s ability. There were considerations to be made about appearances, length and financial considerations.

“We made our choices in January, we got here. It would have been easy for Juventus to make a low bid, but it would have been disrespectful towards Paulo. The decision is made. Today’s meeting was friendly, clear and respectful.”

So, here are the clubs interested in signing Dybala this summer on a free, ranked in order of likelihood.

5. Barcelona

Dybala was for many years labelled as the heir to Lionel Messi in the Argentina national team. That never quite transpired as Messi is still going strong for his country at the age of 34.

But one year after Messi left Barcelona, could Dybala be the heir for Leo at club level?

Barcelona plan to sign a central striker this summer but it is debatable whether Dybala is the right fit stylistically.

Dybala has struggled for Juventus in a three-man attack, whether that be from the middle or the wing. But given he is available on a free and Barca love stacking up forwards, who would bet against them going for Dybala as well?

4. Chelsea

Chelsea are the latest big team to join the race to sign Dybala, according to 90min.com.

The Blues are currently hamstrung in the transfer market as owner Roman Abramovich has been forced to sell the club for political reasons related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Much will depend on who Chelsea's new owners are but it is understood that the club's officials have contacted Dybala's entourage to tell them they are interested in the Argentine.

Once Chelsea have new owners, the plan is to begin more formal talks with Dybala.

3. Tottenham

Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici is close to Dybala, having helped to sign the forward for Juventus.

Spurs are in the market for a centre forward and are likely to buy at least two attackers this summer. Dybala is one of the names on their shortlist.

Dybala would also fit in well with manager Antonio Conte’s system. Conte has often used a two-man attack during his career, which is where the 28-year-old is at his best.

He would likely be deployed alongside Harry Kane, the only question mark being whether his lack of work-rate and defending off the ball would satisfy the demanding Conte.

2. Inter

Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta signed Dybala for Juventus back in 2015 and has an excellent relationship with the Argentine and his agent Jorge Antun.

Marotta has already spoken to Antun and informed him that Inter would like to sign Dybala this summer.

Inter would have to sell some players first - possibly Lautaro Martinez - and also they would not be able to offer as much as Juventus initially did in terms of salary.

Tactically, Dybala would fit in well to Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 but the biggest question mark is whether the forward would want to risk burning his bridges with Juventus fans in joining their bitter rivals Inter.

1. Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone has long been an admirer of Dybala and attempted to sign him back in the summer of 2019 when Juventus tried to offload the Argentine to Man Utd.

Simeone also generally uses a two-man attack, which means that Dybala would fit in tactically at Atletico.

Dybala has also made it clear that if he were to leave Juventus, he would rather stay in Italy or move to Spain instead of the Premier League. This is what the main stumbling block was in the collapsed transfers to Man Utd and Tottenham in 2019.

One uncertainty with Atletico is Simeone’s own future after the most difficult season of his long career as manager there.