Paulo Dybala could miss the World Cup due to a quadriceps injury, but Lorenzo Bettoni reckons Roma and José Mourinho will miss La Joya more than his national team.
The Argentinean striker has had a great start to the season in the capital, where he has scored seven goals and delivered two assists in 11 games across all competitions.
However, his last goal against Lecce caused a quadriceps injury which he collected while converting a penalty kick in the second half.
The ex-Juventus and Palermo striker underwent preliminary exams on Monday, which were insufficient to assess his recovery time. Dybala will undergo an MRI scan today or, most likely tomorrow (Wednesday) to know how long he will be forced to the sidelines and, ultimately, if he will miss the World Cup.
Mourinho has already said that Dybala will no longer play for Roma in 2022.
It’s safe to say that the Giallorossi will be more affected than Argentina, assuming that the 28-year-old doesn’t recover in time for the World Cup.
Mourinho pushed to sign the Argentinean striker, who he saw as the only available player who could help Roma take a step forward in terms of quality. Facts prove the Special One right, as Dybala has contributed to nine goals so far and is Roma’s best scorer this season.
Dybala has managed one goal every 114 minutes this term, netting five goals in Serie A and two in Europa League.
He is the technical leader of the Giallorossi as well as their most decisive player.
Mourinho will replace La Joya by playing Lorenzo Pellegrini in a slightly more advanced position with Nicolò Zaniolo, behind Tammy Abraham or Andrea Belotti. He could also use one attacking midfielder with both centre forwards, trying to be even more effective in the final third without his best player this season.
Dybala hasn’t played the same crucial role at Argentina, where he has only scored three goals in 34 appearances.
He was not fully fit when he joined his national team during the last international break, so he returned to Italy without playing with the South Americans for one minute.
His last international appearance was in June when the Albiceleste beat Italy in the Finalissima at Wembley on June 1 and Dybala was introduced in the final minute.
The last time he played a game from start to finish with his national team was in 2018 in an international friendly against Iraq. It suggests that Dybala is not as central in Argentina’s project as he is at Roma, but his presence in Qatar 2022 can still be necessary for Lionel Scaloni who could rely on a super sub in Leo Messi’s last World Cup ever.
That’s why the Argentina coach and every football lover hope Dybala’s injury is not too severe so he can have a chance to play in Qatar. Nevertheless, Mourinho and Roma will miss him dearly during his time on the treatment table before the start of the new year.