Paulo Dybala’s future is uncertain as the fit striker prepares to lead Juventus to one of the biggest games of their season so far, at title-chasing AC Milan.
The Argentine international’s current contract with Juve expires at the end of the season and he has reportedly been waiting since October to sign a renewal that would increase his salary to eight million euros per season ($9.1 million). , plus another two million euros of bonds
Dybala cast a stern look at the Juve hierarchy after opening the scoring in last weekend’s home win over Udinese and then implausibly claimed he was trying and failing to “find a friend” in a crowd of 5,000 people imposed by Covid at the Allianz Arena.
He then told Sky that things had happened “that he’d rather not talk about”, leaving little doubt about his frustration with the club.
However, ahead of Juve’s 4-1 Coppa Italia win over Sampdoria on Tuesday, in which Dybala scored his third goal in five games since the new year, chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene insisted the The club would discuss the new agreement with Dybala next month.
“It’s not just him, we also have contracts for (Juan) Cuadrado, (Mattia) Perin, (Federico) Bernadeschi and (Mattia) De Sciglio,” Arrivabene told Mediaset.
Last week, Gazzetta Dello Sport reported that Juve, who posted a loss of nearly €210m in the year to June 2021, want to cut Dybala’s salary and shorten the length of his renewal due to concerns about his condition. physical after a series of injuries
Meanwhile, Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta has suggested they could be ready to attack if the 28-year-old leaves the league leaders’ main rivals, who are unbeaten in eight league games and given the chance. to squeeze into the Champions League places this weekend as fourth. -Place Atalanta’s trip to goalscorer but inconsistent Lazio.
Champion Inter, who are two points clear of AC Milan, may end up with two games in hand at the end of the weekend as their match with Venezia risks being postponed due to a spate of Covid-19 cases. 19 on his promoted opponent. .
Nearly two years after the pandemic first shut down professional sport in Italy, a protocol made official this week has established a clear rule: if you have nine positive players from a previously agreed 25-player roster, then your match will not take place. finished. .
Inter will be waiting to see how many of the 15 cases in Venezia, which announced 11 new positives on Thursday, are players and if those announced last weekend test negative before the match at San Siro on Saturday.
Napoli are also at risk of not playing their derby with Salernitana after the bottom team in the league announced a positive ninth player on Thursday night.
Player to watch: Victor Osimhen
Osimhen could make his first Napoli start in two months if his derby with Salernitana goes ahead, as the Nigeria forward returns to action earlier than expected after facial fractures suffered against Inter in late November. .
The 23-year-old made his comeback, after missing out on the African Cup of Nations, in a cameo during Napoli’s 2-0 win in Bologna on Monday, and with Luciano Spalletti’s side four points behind Inter, the return of his star goal could kick. -begins his hesitant challenge for the title.
key stats
9 — The number of players with positive Covid tests needed for a match to be postponed.
8 — Juventus has been unbeaten in the league since late November, winning six of its last eight games and drawing the other two.
Calendar (GMT time)
Friday
Verona vs. Bologna (1945)
Saturday
Genoa-Udinese (1400), Inter Milan-Venezia (1700), Lazio-Atalanta (1945)
Sunday
Cagliari – Fiorentina (1130), Napoli – Salernitana, Spezia – Sampdoria, Torino – Sassuolo (all 1400), Empoli – Roma (1700), AC Milan – Juventus (1945)