Gianluigi Buffon is surprised by Juventus’ decision to release Paulo Dybala with Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Newcastle United battling for the forward’s signature, speaking to La Stampa.
The five-time Serie A champion will be a free-agent in July.
But it would be naïve in the extreme to suggest that Dybala can be snapped up for next to nothing in the summer window.
Yes, anyone looking to sign the Argentina international will not have to part with a transfer fee. Juve have already confirmed that his contract won’t be extended.
But so-called ‘free’ signings are not always as affordable as they appear. Juventus themselves will tell you that.
Emboldened by his ‘free-agent’ status, Aaron Ramsey’s camp managed to secure a staggering £400,000-a-week contract when the Italian giants were in talks to sign the Arsenal ace in 2019. A contract that Juventus cannot wait to tear into a million tiny pieces.
WHERE WILL DYBALA END UP?
According to Corriere dello Sport, Tottenham are currently leading the race for a player who narrowly slipped through Daniel Levy’s fingers during a drawn-out transfer saga in the summer of 2019.
Arsenal and an ambitious Newcastle United side are also keen (Corriere).
It remains to be seen if the Premier League trio are willing to match Dybala’s hefty demands, however, after another underwhelming campaign for a 28-year-old struggling to live up to his ‘world-class’ potential.
“I didn’t expect it,” says Juve legend and now Parma ‘keeper Buffon when asked about Dybala’s exit.
“But the club was direct and honest. They didn’t renew his contract because they consider him not functional to their project.
“He will do great things but that does not mean that Juve made a mistake (letting him go).”
For all his talent, Dybala has scored just 28 goals in his last 106 Serie A matches. He will also turn 29 in November.
