“La Joya” as he is universally known, is no longer the same player. His 2025 has been difficult, one of the worst years of his career, marked by few goals, many injuries and more rumors of departure than actual appearances on the pitch or goals or assists. Those rumors are becoming increasingly insistent. Former teammate Leandro Paredes’ Boca Juniors are pushing to sign him as early as January, anticipating a move that many believe will take place next summer after June 30. Roma have not made any renewal offers and, as things stand, are not expected to do so.
This is a major disappointment for the Argentine, who is about to become a father and would like to remain in the capital for several more years. Corriere dello Sport had written about his desire to stay in Rome for another three seasons, but that scenario now seems unlikely. Nothing is official yet, and no one on the Giallorossi board has clearly expressed whether they want to keep him or let him go, but the feeling is increasingly negative and points toward a farewell. Dybala earns a significant salary, but until a year and a half ago his performances fully justified it.
He was capable of making the difference in almost every match, often in the biggest games. That Dybala no longer exists. Gian Piero Gasperini rates him highly, but in the last five matches he started him on the bench four times in a row, only restoring him to the lineup against Juventus, a match Roma lost and in which the number 21 disappointed once again.
The confidence of the Giallorossi fans is fading and for many the time has come to move on. The idea is to fully rely on Matias Soulé, now a regular starter and the true master of that right sided zone, and on Ferguson, who seemed destined to be the main striker, while waiting for reinforcements from the transfer market. Gasperini’s top target is Joshua Zirkzee, not a classic striker but more of a number ten and a half, an attacking midfielder effective in the penalty area, precisely the kind of profile that once defined the former Juventus Argentine.
Not giving up
It feels like a clear signal. Boca Juniors, however, can wait. For now, Dybala does not seem willing to give up, to say “that is enough” to European football and to his hope of winning something in Rome with the Roma shirt, for the fans who welcomed him as a star and who now watch him struggle.
So what is the problem, one may ask. The problem is that Paulo no longer appears capable of playing at the same level as before. Even prior to the surgery that kept him out all summer, he showed worrying fragility, with constant minor injuries that disrupted his fitness and prevented continuity. Since the summer, things have only worsened: Gasperini tried to restore his confidence, placing him back at the center of the project and stating that he and Pellegrini are the most talented players in the squad, but then the Argentine suffered another physical setback after missing a crucial penalty against Milan, a goal that could have changed many things, not only for the team.
It now seems ninety nine percent certain that he will not remain in Rome and in Argentine there is already confidence that he will be playing for Boca Juniors from next July. This means Dybala’s main mission is to leave a positive impression and end his time with the Giallorossi on a high note. His first year and a half in Rome was brilliant and unforgettable. He made Roma fans dream. He was often the protagonist, delivering magical, almost dreamlike moments that reignited belief and carried the team to a Europa League final and beyond.
Right now, however, he barely looks like himself. There is no power in his legs, no magic and often not even the desire or confidence to take free kicks or shoot from distance. Leaving like this would be sad and unfair. Whatever the future holds, Dybala must return to making a difference. He must return to being Dybala in every sense, for Roma, for the Roma fans and for himself.