Here we go again with Paulo Dybala’s future at Juventus hanging in the balance

It was proper round this time final yr that Paulo Dybala officially tested positive for the coronavirus. Only a few brief weeks earlier than that, Dybala was making Ashley Younger seem like an entire idiot and performed a starring position as he helped lead Juventus to an impressive 2-0 win over Inter Milan at the Allianz Stadium, the final sport the membership performed earlier than lockdown in Italy meant we’d go a number of months with none sort of soccer in any way.

Loads has occurred over the course of those final 12 months.

The factor is, although, not a variety of it has truly come on the sphere.

A good portion of the lockdown was spent speaking in regards to the contract negotiations between Dybala’s representatives and Juventus’ entrance workplace. There was chatter, an entire lot of chatter, about Dybala getting nearer and nearer to agreeing to phrases on a brand new deal. Twelve months later, we’re nonetheless speaking in regards to the contract extension that Dybala nonetheless hasn’t signed, as he now heads into the summer time of 2021 with a deal that has all of 1 season left on it and a future in Turin that’s something however sure. Once more. Similar to we’ve heard final summer time. Similar to we heard two summers in the past. Similar to we’ve mainly heard ever since Juve turned down a mega-offer from Barcelona 3 ¹⁄₂ years in the past.

Basically, that is what pops into my thoughts relating to Dybala’s scenario:

1. He’s going to signal the long-awaited contract extension as soon as and for all.
2. He’s going to be offered whereas he nonetheless has a yr left on his present contract.

There doesn’t appear to be a center floor on this. There’s not going to be a scenario the place we see Dybala getting into the ultimate yr of his contract at Juventus and his future on the membership nonetheless unknown past the summer time of 2022. That’s a horrible spot to be in as a participant of Dybala’s high quality, but it surely’s even worse for Juventus contemplating they run the intense threat of certainly one of their most dear property signing someplace else on a free.

By all accounts, Dybala nonetheless needs to be at Juventus, along with his damage scenario being the factor that clearly has him annoyed as he tries to come back again to contribute in some sort of capability after the present worldwide break. He’s basically stated as a lot on social media a few days ago, which have mainly confirmed stories that came out last week. However for each thought that Dybala needs to remain regardless of the continuing contract standoff, there are feedback like these from Juve VP Pavel Nedved earlier this week:

“His presence would give us extra choices upfront. He has one yr left in his contract and I’ve nothing so as to add to what Paratici and Agnelli already stated. Juventus will consider each alternative available in the market.”

I do know that with how the Juve entrance workplace is perceived proper now — and, truthfully, the previous few years — that taking feedback in regards to the membership’s future at face worth doesn’t at all times work out in one of the simplest ways for anyone attempting to determine what’s occurring. (Simply ask Maurizio Sarri about that one after administration backed him for weeks previous to his dismissal final summer time.) However, with all that stated, there’s one obtrusive factor about Nedved’s assertion above about Dybala: it’s removed from a dedication to Dybala past the final two months of the 2020-21 season. Far, removed from it — and it’s on the market for everyone to see.

We’ve flirted with the prospect of Dybala leaving earlier than. We’ve seen him come shut two summers in the past when he almost signed with Manchester United after which Tottenham earlier than Dybala himself basically put the kibosh on each of these transfers on account of his contract calls for. That was the sort of transfer the place Juve have been very a lot attempting to promote him and get as a lot as they might again in both straight money or one other big-money asset. However this example is totally different as a result of Juventus, the membership itself, is as a lot at a crossroads as a lot because the good-looking Argentine is himself.

Does promoting Dybala, after the entire well being points he’s had this season and his market worth taking a severe hit in a pandemic-altered market, seem to be a terrific concept? In fact not. Don’t neglect in regards to the sorts of figures that have been being thrown on the market when Dybala was concerned in a proposed swap deal for Romelu Lukaku or what Tottenham was offering two summers ago. (And that Barcelona supply in 2017.)

However Juventus’ funds are an absolute mess due to the pandemic and their bloated payroll, one that’s greater than double that of another Serie A workforce. They’re staring a €113.7 million deficit from the primary half of the 2020-21 fiscal yr proper within the face, and have made it just about recognized that one thing might need to occur on account of the membership’s present monetary shortcomings. And in the event that they miss out on Champions League play subsequent season … oh boy.

Dybala doubtlessly leaving Juventus this summer time is actual. The contract dispute that has basically lasted a complete yr continues to be a factor. (Don’t you miss final April when we ran a story about Dybala truly agreeing to a brand new deal? Or how the one factor standing behind Dybala and a brand new contract was the travel restrictions from South America to Italy last summer? These have been the times, man.) The membership is in determined want of cash and Dybala is a participant that, regardless of all of his troubles staying wholesome this season, continues to be simply 27 years outdated and may herald a pleasant chunk of change if he heads out, depressed market and all.

There are a variety of decisions that Juve has to make this summer time even earlier than they get to Dybala’s standing on the membership. However Dybala additionally has to select, too: Is his love for the membership he’s been at for almost six years sufficient to make up for the contract supply not completely being as much as what he needs?

But when he’s available on the market like Nedved’s feedback basically elude to, then possibly pondering a contract extension settlement will truly occur simply isn’t the fitting strategy to go about it.