Paulo Dybala a €12m bargain for Chelsea

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 3 Mar 2024 15:11 GMT
• 4 min read

Chelsea will be ruing the decision not to sign Paulo Dybala this summer, with the Argentine No.10 now one of the most in-form players in all of Europe.

The Blues had been interested in signing Dybala in the summer of 2023, with then-new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino known to be a big admirer of his Argentine countryman.

Pochettino previously failed to sign Dybala for Tottenham in 2019 and was considering making another move for a player who had a €12 million release clause in his contract throughout July 2023.

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In the end, Chelsea opted not to move for Dybala and he remained at Roma for the 2023-24 season.

While Chelsea have endured another disastrous season - in particular as an attacking force - Dybala has been back to his brilliant best ever since Daniele De Rossi was appointed as Roma caretaker manager on January 16, replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho.

The Argentine has seven goals and two assists in his last five matches for Roma, producing a string of magical performances.

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The past week Dybala has been particularly inspirational. He scored a stunning hattrick on Monday in the 3-2 win over Torino, before following that up with a magnificent free kick goal and an assist in the 4-1 thrashing of Monza on Saturday.

Dybala’s performances have put Roma back into contention to qualify for the Champions League, while they also look a threat in the Europa League where they will play Brighton in the Europa League next week.

The 30-year-old’s future will once again come under the radar this summer.

Roma have severe financial problems, while Dybala’s €12m release clause will again be valid for the month of July only.

At €12m he represents one of the bargains of the coming transfer window. Will Chelsea - and Pochettino if he stays at Chelsea - come back in for him again?

Dybala at Roma

Dybala signed for Roma on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.

The Argentine had been a free agent since leaving Juventus at the end of his contract in June 2022, with the breakup being acrimonious after the Bianconeri went back on a previous gentleman’s agreement to extend his deal.

Dybala was Roma’s star player in his first season, scoring 18 goals and delivering seven assists in all competitions from 29 starts.

This season he now has 12 goals and seven assists in 19 Serie A games.