Has Paulo Dybala Lived Up to His €32M Price Tag?

Few players in Serie A made more of an impact this season than Paulo Dybala, the Argentina international enjoying a remarkable debut season with Juventus. Contributing an impressive 23 goals and nine assists, he has proved to be indispensable following his move from Palermo last summer.

According to Juve’s official website, the club paid the Sicilians a fee of €32 million for the striker—who signed a five-year contract with the Bianconeri—while a potential further €8 million would be paid “if certain performance-related targets are met.”

The question of whether Dybala has lived up to that price tag is simple to answer for anyone who has paid attention to his performances in those famous black-and-white stripes: yes.

Seeing his name feature so regularly on the scoresheet is almost enough justification, his Serie A tally of 19 trailing only his compatriot—and runaway Capocannoniere—Gonzalo Higuain, but Dybala’s goals were vital in deciding the destination of two trophies.

While he may add a Coppa Italia to his collection on Saturday, the 22-year-old bagged a goal on his competitive debut for the Bianconeri, a strike which sealed a 2-0 Supercoppa Italiana victory over Lazio back in August.

Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

Dybala’s first league goal would be little more than a consolation effort in a defeat to AS Roma, quickly grabbing a second to snatch a draw with Chievo Verona as Juve struggled in the early weeks of the campaign.

A match-winning effort in a 1-0 win over AC Milan on November 21 was vital in seeing the Old Lady build momentum and was followed by goals in wins over Lazio, Torino and Fiorentina.

Dybala—along with Paul Pogba and Juan Cuadrado—was one of the few Juventus players who shone creatively this term.

squawka.com

Those eight assists highlight a willingness to supply his team-mates with scoring opportunities, Squawka statistics showing his tally of 73 chances created was a team-high and a staggering 20 more than any other member of the squad.

He was a constant thorn in the side of opposing defenders, with WhoScored.com figures showing only Pogba (2.9) completed more dribbles per game than Dybala (2.7). That often led to him being hauled down or kicked, with the same source showing he suffered 2.1 fouls per game, a tally only topped by Cuadrado’s average of 3.1.

MARCO BERTORELLO/Getty Images

Netting a goal against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, then watching the team struggle when he missed the second leg, serves to highlight Dybala’s importance.

But perhaps the biggest factor in recognising Juventus are getting superb value for their significant investment is Dybala’s age.

The striker clearly has many years left in his career and recently told Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) that he would love to spend them replicating the achievements of some iconic figures:

"

Could I become like Alessandro Del Piero and Gigi Buffon? Yes, I can picture that. Their story fascinates me: 20 years with the same shirt makes you a monument. I cannot promise it, because this is not only up to me, but it would be wonderful to win what they’ve won and stay at Juventus forever.

"

He went on to say his “objective is to win the Ballon d’Or,” something no fewer than six former Juventus players—Omar Sivori, Paolo Rossi, Michel Platini, Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane and Pavel Nedved—managed to do.

Regardless of whether he is able to join that vaunted list in the years to come, there is little doubt Paulo Dybala’s first season has seen him live up to the hefty €32 million fee Juventus handed Palermo less than 12 months ago.