Roma’s sale of Dybala is for the best as De Rossi stays strong

Amidst the chaos of Paulo Dybala’s possible departure from Roma, Wayne Girard argues that no player is bigger than the club, and Roma will be better off in the long term with their new young stars.

“Nobody is more important than Roma, that is crucial.” Daniele De Rossi prompted the press, amid a flurry of questions regarding Paulo Dybala’s future. 

It couldn’t have come at a worse time for Roma. With their season starting in less than 24 hours, La Joya’s time at the capital is at its end. This comes off the back of a mega salary offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah, with a three-year deal worth around €60m. It’s generational money, a sum that only very few players could turn down for their families. 

For the Giallorossi, they’re put in a tricky position of not just having to go back into the market for an attacker, as well as losing a player who is absolutely adored by its fans. Arguably Roma’s second most talented player of all time, his jersey sales have even contributed to €1.5m at the club’s official shops from his arrival in 2022 to the end of 2023. Now, the streets of Rome plead for him not to be sold, with banners hung above freeways and graffiti sprayed in alleyways. Social media would have you believe it’s Armageddon.

But Roma will be okay. As De Rossi subtly reminded the press that no player could ever be bigger than the club, he suggested some concern that the situation could be distracting to his players, urging them to stay focused on the match against Cagliari. It’s necessary to recall the entire scope of this past summer, that outside of Paulo’s dealings, Roma have had a powerful, top-heavy transfer market. Ironically, if there’s any position they were well covered in, it was creativity in the attacking third with Matías Soulé and Enzo Le Fée. 

Dybala’s agent meets Al Qadsiah: why Roma must sell their star

The Roma legend-now-manager mentioned how coaches tend to geek out on certain statistics, referring to Soulé who led Serie A last season in chances created and successful dribbles. La Lupa’s fans are going to need some time to heal from this open wound, but the 21-year-old will be a significant player. It’s way too soon to even consider it, but that No. 10 shirt is hanging out in Trigoria somewhere, just waiting for the right fantasista. With a long-term contract and a big future ahead of him, at least conceiving the idea is worth conceiving. With a bit more leg in him than Dybala, Soulé can help keep the team shape a little tighter and require less cover from his side’s midfielder and right-back. 

While there was the idea that Dybala would play centrally, this also posed problems for the same reason. Out of possession, this would require De Rossi to pull an extra wing-forward back to cover in midfield, causing an imbalance in the module’s organisation. Two deep-lying midfielders would face constant attacks without a more athletic personality at the top of their triangle. If he were to play as the false nine, well, there would rarely ever be a time when he relegated marquee signing Artem Dovbyk to the bench.

As we look over these options, it becomes clear that Dybala’s tactical role in this team was not only imperfect, given the entry of the new signings, but not at all guaranteed. Playing in just 57% of eligible matches last season, inserting him into the lineup whenever he’s fit and healthy could also be disruptive to his countryman’s development and the overall chemistry of the attack.

Cagliari vs Roma: probable line-ups and where to watch on TV

With his salary climbing to circa €15m gross this season, totalling €30m over the next two years, this is a massive undertaking for a club looking to consolidate its overbearing wages.  It’s a weight too heavy to bear for a team that still needs to work in the market and fill in glaring gaps.

Roma will be fine without Dybala, and perhaps, even better. That comment may have forced some readers to ex out of this article quickly, but De Rossi raised a point that all Romanisti need to keep close to themselves:

“A team 24 months ago sold Ruiz, Koulibaly, Mertens and Insigne and then won the Scudetto. I’m not saying that it will happen to us too but I am saying that sometimes teams, even after losing strong players, rebuild themselves and win in an unexpected way.”