Why Everyone is Chasing Paulo Dybala
It is a regrettable, yet increasingly popular trend of 21st century football to dub exciting young players as “the next” or “the new” name-a-famous-footballer. The comparisons are almost always exaggerated, unfair and lazy: just pick a very successful player in the same position, maybe they’re a similar height and hopefully from the same country and there you go; easy. More often than not, skill, style of play and any other even slightly nuanced attribute a player may have is entirely ignored in favour of the obvious option.
This certainly seems to be the case for 21 year-old Palermo Paulo Dybala, who, after breaking onto the scene in Argentine football with Instituto, was immediately compared to Sergio Aguero. Both were regular first teamers by the time they were seventeen, both had fairly stocky builds and were deployed mainly at striker… Perfect! It didn’t help that upon signing Dybala in 2012 at age 18 after just one season (albeit impressively prolific) in Argentina, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini announced his club had indeed signed “the new Sergio Aguero”. That unfortunate sentence would if fact haunt the youngster over the next couple of seasons as he struggled to establish himself in a Palermo side that experienced relegation in his first season at the club.
His second started off without much fanfare as well, as Dybala was often left playing supporting roles or simply not playing at all. In wasn’t until the final third of last season the attacker (who had turned 20 by that point) started to show legitimate flashes of the sensational ability he’d displayed in his homeland. His late surge in form was match by his team’s success, as they romped to the Serie B title, winning by 14 points, to earn a place back in the top division of Italian football. Even before the start of the season though, there were still many looking at Dybala more quizzically than admiringly – Can he start to fulfil his potential? How will he handle the increased responsibilities? Can he begin to form his own identity as a player, rather than being constantly reminded of what Zamparini said upon signing him?
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Dybala has answered those nagging doubts emphatically, scoring 13 goals while leading Palermo to a comfortable midtable finish, more than that though, it’s the way he’s done it that has drawn rave reviews across Europe. While Aguero is a direct, cold-blooded killer who thrives in the box and bullies defenders with his power, low centre of gravity and purposeful play; Dybala is more subtle and intricate in his play. He is also more versatile, able to line up at striker, in the number 10 role, or even at times as in inverted right winger (he’s left footed… Unlike Aguero). His play itself is also more varied; he’s naturally creative, with excellent vision and passing, although, unlike many other players with those traits, Dybala is a good hold up player and link man when playing as the lone striker despite his relate lack of size. In fact, even more so than Aguero, his technique and touch immediately stand out in his play.
He’s a good goalscorer, but not overly predatory in the way Aguero is, relying more on his skill and technique with both feet rather than seemingly innate instincts. When playing as an attacking midfielder, Dybala’s workrate and willingness to press opponents is clear (something than should excite one Premier League manager in particular), while his initial acceleration combined with his skill level allow him to routinely beat players one on one in tighter midfield battles. In addition, his willingness to be physical and hold up play should ease his transition to a more competitive league (the Premier League is his assumed destination, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal particularly heavily linked, though they aren’t the only suitors by any means), while his willingness to adjust his game and positioning to the team’s style of play should endear him to any manager he plays under.
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What is equally impressive when looking at Dybala’s career from afar is how, unlike many other wonderkids in the sport, he’s had to overcome some pretty substantial hurdles in his early career. A tumultuous first two season in Europe, combined with a hefty burden of comparisons to one of the best strikers in the world being made publically by his boss, before even playing a game, could have severely stunted the youngsters progress. For a while that seemed a distinct possibility (even going into this season, it seemed just as likely he’d start the 2015/6 season back in Argentina as at a European powerhouse), so the way he has turned it around in the last 15 months or so should be seen as a testament to his mental fortitude as much as his ability.
Now though a move to bigger and better things is inevitable, with Palermo removing Dybala from their squad so he can complete a move elsewhere. There he’ll finally get a chance to step out of the shadow of the infamous comparison made by Zamparini once and for all and. If all goes well, in five years’ time he may even be able to look on from his perch at near the top of world football as “the new Paulo Dybala” makes a name for himself.