Paulo Dybala and Giorgio Chiellini have one last chance to win a trophy at Juventus and the Argentinean striker could make it by beating his potential next club.
Both players will leave Turin at the end of the season. Juventus announced in March that Dybala would not extend his expiring contract at the Allianz Stadium. On the other hand, Chiellini hasn’t officially confirmed his departure, but his only doubt seems to concern whether to retire at the end of the season or finish his career abroad, perhaps in the MLS, in 2023.
Chiellini is not only a Juventus veteran. He is the only player to have won all the nine consecutive Serie A titles between 2012 and 2020. He is the oldest member of the old guard and Italy’s failed attempt to qualify for Qatar 2022 has made him reconsider his future in Turin despite a contract until 2023.
The 37-year-old has won 19 trophies at the club and could lift his 20th and last one on Wednesday night when Juventus face Inter in the Coppa Italia Final. Both he and Juventus’ vice-captain Dybala have a chance to win their last piece of silverware with the Bianconeri, but La Joya has an even trickier task, given that Inter could become his team in 2022-23.
Beppe Marotta, the man who signed him at Juventus for €40m in 2015, remains a huge admirer and is eager to reunite with Dybala in Milan over the summer.
The Argentinean hasn’t yet made up his mind but seems favourable to signing with the Benamata despite their rivalry with Juventus. Multiple reports in Italy suggest the Serie A champions are leading the race to secure his services and according to Alfredo Pedullà, Dybala is waiting for an offer from the Nerazzurri, his priority over any other team.
Borussia Dortmund have also made their move, but Dybala is in no rush and is waiting for more concrete offers before deciding on his future. Despite rumours concerning Atletico, Barcelona and Tottenham, he hasn’t yet received proposals from Spain or England.
Video: Dybala reacts as Juventus fans tell him ‘don’t join Inter’
Inter seem to have the ideal tactical environment for him. Even though Dybala may earn less than at Juventus, joining Inter would see him remain in Serie A and play in the Champions League with a primary role in the team. His agent has denied that an agreement with Inter is already in place, but Dybala fuelled transfer speculations last week when a group of Juventus fans begged him not to join their biggest rivals. La Joya didn’t say a word and just smiled at them while signing autographs. This is not to say that he will surely move to San Siro, but the destination is certainly appealing for the 28-year-old.
The former Palermo star has scored four goals in 16 games against Inter. The last one in October allowed the Old Lady to pick up a late 1-1 draw at the Stadio Meazza. Chiellini has played 34 games against the Nerzurri and on Wednesday night, they will become the opponent he’s faced the most times in his career. Chiello has won 14 matches against the Nerazzurri, drawing 11 and losing nine. He has scored two goals, but that would be among Dybala’s main tasks on Wednesday. Although their next destinations remain uncertain, Chiellini and Dybala want to close the last chapter in Turin with a trophy in their hands before turning page.
It’s a bad match for both inter and dybala.
Inter will be dead in the water for the foreseeable future due to their horrid financial situation. So dybala won’t win anything at inter, obviously.
On the other hand, dybala is so injury prone that he is basically a waste of salary and inter can’t afford to waste such a high salary.