Paulo Dybala

Paulo Dybala
Personal information
Full namePaulo Bruno Dybala
Date of birth15 November 1993
Place of birthLaguna Larga, Córdoba, Argentina
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Palermo
Number9
Youth career
2003–2011Instituto
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2011–2012Instituto38(17)
2012–Palermo85(21)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 April 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Paulo Bruno Dybala (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpaulo ðiˈβala]; born 15 November 1993) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a striker for Palermo in Serie A.

Due to his creative style of play, he has been compared with compatriots Sergio Agüero,[1] Javier Pastore,[2] and Italian striker Vincenzo Montella.[3]

Club career

Instituto de Córdoba

Nicknamed La Joya[4] or El pibe de la pensión,[5] Dybala made his professional debut in the Primera B Nacional (Argentine second division) with his hometown club Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba, when he was 17 years old. In total he played 40 games with the club, scoring 17 goals.[6][7] Was the youngest to score a goal beating the record of Mario Kempes, was the first to play 38 consecutive games in a professional league in the country by beating again Kempes, was the first to score two hat-tricks in a season and has scored in six consecutive games, surpassing the previous record of four games.[8]

Palermo

On 29 April 2012, U.S. Città di Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini announced the signing of Dybala stating "We have got Paulo Dybala – the new Sergio Agüero". Later the same day however, Instituto's general secretary José Teaux, stated that the man who had completed the negotiations with Palermo, did not have the mandate to sell him.

On 20 July 2012, Palermo released a press announcement confirming the signing of Dybala, who signed a four-year deal with the Sicilian club.[9] He debuted with the rosanero in Serie A match against Lazio. Dybala scored his first and second goal in Italy on 11 November 2012 when Palermo defeated Sampdoria at home by 2–0,.[10]

Dybala had his breakthrough season in the 2014–15 Serie A where he scored 10 goals in the first half of the season, forming a successful striking partnership with fellow Argentine Franco Vázquez and being linked with several top European clubs.[11]

Dybala's agent has confirmed that PSG and Chelsea have made a bid for the Argentine striker.[12] AS Roma, Napoli, Juventus and Arsenal are said to be the other interested in him.

International career

Dybala was called by the Argentina Under-17 to participate in the XVI Pan American Games, but in the end he did not take part in the competition. On 19 July 2012 he received his first call in the Argentina Under-20, but declined the invitation.

Thanks to his dual citizenship, Dybala is also eligible to play for Poland and Italy but he has expressly stated that he feels Argentine and has always dreamt of playing for Argentina.[13]

Style of play

A quick, creative, and agile player, with good technical ability,[14][15][16][17] Dybala is known for his dribbling and close control in limited spaces,[17] as well as his ability to protect and hold up the ball with his back to goal.[18] Due to his pace, positioning, and ball skills, he excels during counter-attacks,[18] and at beating the offside trap to make attacking runs. A hardworking player, he is also known for his defensive contribution.[18] Dybala is capable both of creating chances for team-mates as well as scoring goals, due to his powerful and accurate shooting and heading ability.[17][18] A versatile forward, he is capable of playing in any offensive position, as a striker, supporting forward, attacking midfielder, or even as an inverted winger on the right, where he is able to shoot on goal with his stronger left foot.[17][18]

Personal

His grandfather, Bolesław, was born in the village of Kraśniów in Poland.[19] His family also has Italian origins.[20]

Career statistics

Club

(Correct as of 12 April 2015)

Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Instituto de Córdoba
2011–12 381720004017
Total 381720004017
Palermo
2012–13 2731000283
2013–14 2852000305
2014–15 301310003013
Total 852140008921
Career total 12338600012938

Honours

Palermo

References

  1. ↑ "Zamparini: "Preso il nuovo Aguero"" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport.
  2. ↑ Norrito, Massimo. "Dybala, il bomber con la faccia da bambino pronto a fare innamorare il "Barbera"". http://palermo.repubblica.it/''. La Repubblica. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Dybala: il grande colpo, Lo Monaco: "Erede di Montella"" (in Italian). Live Sicilia.
  4. ↑ "La Joya está bien" (in Spanish). Olè. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "El pibe de la pensión" (in Spanish). I'm Cordoba. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Paulo Dybala player". Soccerway. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "Paulo Dybala player 2" (in Spanish). Instituto Atletico Central Cordoba. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Dybala, el pibe de los récords" [Dybala, the kid of Records] (in Spanish). MundoD. 27 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "DYBALA HA FIRMATO" [DYBALA SIGNED] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  10. ↑ http://www.legaseriea.it/en/serie-a-tim/match-report/-/match-report/Palermo-Sampdoria/47894
  11. ↑ https://eurosport.yahoo.com/football/serie-a/top-goalscorers.html
  12. ↑ "Agent confirms bid for Dybala from PSG and Chelsea.". thefootballcafe.com. 2015-04-20. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  13. ↑ "Italia, Dybala dice no: "Grazie Conte, ma sogno l'Argentina"" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  14. ↑ Di Feo, Giulio. "Mercato, non solo Tevez Juve-Guarin, Napoli-Dybala". http://www.gazzetta.it''. La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "GATTUSO: "C'è tanto entusiasmo, colpito da Dybala. Dal mercato mi aspetto ..."". Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  16. ↑ Lo Iacono, Salvatore. "Palermo, occhi puntati su Paulo Dybala". http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/''. Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Calamai, Luca. "Inter, ecco baby Dybala Arouca alla Fiorentina?". http://www.gazzetta.it/''. La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Chioffi, Stefano. "Paulo Dybala, 17 gol per stregare il Palermo". http://www.corrieredellosport.it''. Il Corriere dello Sport. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "Paulo Dybala – "nowy Messi" z polskimi korzeniami" (in Polish). Sport.onet.
  20. ↑ "Scatta raduno rosanero: 25 convocati, assente giustificato Dybala" (in Italian). Corriere del Mezzogiorno.
  21. ↑ "Palermo's Smiling Assassin Pablo Dybala Smiling All The Way To Superstardom". Retrieved 16 February 2015.