Paulo Dybala isn’t satisfied by his stellar first season at Juventus – “when you get accustomed to winning, you want to keep winning”.
The Argentinian forward joined the Bianconeri last summer in a €40m deal from Palermo, scoring 22 goals in all competitions as the Turin giants won the double.
“The truth is that when you meet your objectives, it’s difficult to slow down,” Dybala told La Nacion in his homeland.
Paulo Dybala isn’t satisfied by his stellar first season at Juventus – “when you get accustomed to winning, you want to keep winning”.
The Argentinian forward joined the Bianconeri last summer in a €40m deal from Palermo, scoring 22 goals in all competitions as the Turin giants won the double.
“The truth is that when you meet your objectives, it’s difficult to slow down,” Dybala told La Nacion in his homeland.
“When you get accustomed to winning, you just want to keep winning, and that’s good. I’ve won titles, but the truth is I’ve just started.
“I always have important objectives in my head, and I want to keep winning.”
Dybala then discussed the road which took him from Instituto to Turin via Sicily.
“I was only 18 when I emigrated to Europe. Luckily things went well, or I wouldn’t have joined Juventus at 21.
“When I went to Palermo I was under a lot of scrutiny for being the most expensive purchase in the club’s history. I always tried to stay calm and show I was worth the price.
“At Juventus I was pleasantly surprised beyond the names. It’s a very humble group, which helped me from day one.
“They treated me very well, and I think that’s the sign of a big club.
“The big names – leaving aside the fact they’ve won a lot, like [Gigi] Buffon and [Sami] Khedira who are world champions – help in every way with their experience and humility.
“Players like [Leonardo] Bonucci, [Andrea] Barzagli, [Giorgio] Chiellini and [Claudio] Marchisio who have been at the club for a long time, teach people how to live there, how they work.
“The number 21 shirt? It’s a very important number. When I arrived I wanted the number 9 shirt, as it’s the number I’ve had from Instituto to Palermo.
“I knew Alvaro Morata had it though, and you have to be respectful when you get to a big club.
“Juve told me they wanted to give me the number 21 shirt. I felt a bit of pressure, because [Andrea] Pirlo had it the previous year, but luckily things went well, and in the end it wasn’t a burden.
“Did I make people forget Carlos Tevez? Now he’s not missed so much, because we had a very good year.
“I had a very good first season, and I surpassed the number of goals Carlitos got in his first season. So in that sense people have forgotten him a little.
“But hey, everything Carlos showed over those years isn’t easy to repeat. Everything is going well for me at the moment though.”
The Old Lady refused to let their star forward be called-up for the Olympics, was he surprised by that decision?
“I doubted they’d let me come, because when I was called-up they told me ‘it’s not easy, we’ll have to talk to the Coach [Max Allegri] and the other directors’,” Dybala recalls.
“I realised it would be difficult, because for them the League gets underway when the Games are in full-swing. Preparation is very important for Juventus.
“Tata Martino? I think he must have been surprised, because I think the other clubs who have players in my situation accepted. I don’t really know though, because the full list isn’t known yet.
“I’m sure the Coach expected a yes.
“I’ve never had an opportunity to play with the national team, to travel, to share a month with my teammates and get to know them better.
“The Copa America or the Games would have been very important for me, because I’ve never had the chance to play them.
“The 2018 World Cup? It’s my dream to be included, just as it was for the Copa America and the Olympics.
“I think playing in a World Cup is surely the ultimate for any footballer, representing your country and having the chance to be world champion.
“I’ll try to get to the World Cup.”