Argentine striker Paulo Dybala has officially informed the Roma board that he will not renew his contract with the Italian team for next season. The 32-year-old player expressed his desire to return to his home country to defend the colors of Boca Juniors, a club he has supported since childhood. The decision ends a four-year cycle in the Italian capital and marks a significant change in the athlete’s career, who chose to refuse superior financial offers to play for Bombonera.
Negotiations between the athlete and the Xeneize leadership have progressed quickly behind the scenes through direct contacts with the presidency of the Argentine club. Dybala’s current contract with Roma expires in June 2026, allowing him to sign a pre-contract with any team free of transfer costs. Fontes linked to the football department of Roma confirmed that the club tried one last attempt to keep the number 21, but the player’s personal project weighed more than staying on the European continent.
Negotiations for a change of scenery involve the following main points:
- Rejection of a formal renewal offer for another three seasons at Itália.
- Direct contact between the player and the president of Boca Juniors, Juan Román Riquelme.
- Decisive influence of Leandro Paredes, starting midfielder of the Argentine team and personal friend of the striker.
- Planning to compete in the decisive phases of Copa Libertadores and América.
🇦🇷 Paulo Dybala rejected the renewal offer for Roma and expressed his desire to return to Argentina to play on
—Fútbol Fichajes (@FutboolFichajes)February 10, 2026
🇮🇹 El’s team offered a salary of €4M + bonuses, less than 50% compared to the last seasons.…pic.twitter.com/CNMA4BhO18
Personal decision and veteran influence
Dybala’s move to South American football is not seen as a financial issue, but rather as the realization of a career dream. The striker has never hidden his admiration for the Buenos Aires club and believes that this is the ideal time to play at a high level for Argentina. Leandro Paredes’s influence was essential for conversations to gain traction in recent weeks, with the midfielder serving as an ambassador for the Boca sports project.
Paredes, who returned to the club last year, has been in constant dialogue with La Joya to explain the current structure of the training center in Ezeiza. The duo’s rapport, which won the Copa from the Mundo in 2022, promises to be the technical pillar of the team led by Diego Martinez for the remainder of the 2026 calendar.
Player history in Italian football
Paulo Dybala built a solid trajectory at Itália, passing through clubs like Palermo and Juventus before landing at Na Juventus, the athlete experienced his technical and physical peak, winning several Serie A titles and reaching a Liga UEFA Campeões final. Sua’s transfer to Roma in 2022 was greeted with celebration by the Giallorossi fans, where he quickly became the technical reference under the command of different coaches.
Despite his unquestionable talent, the Argentine’s time in the Italian capital was marked by some interruptions due to recurring physical problems. Mesmo thus, Dybala maintained a high goal participation average, being the team’s main free kick and penalty taker. The Roman board regrets his departure, but recognizes that the athlete’s cycle seems to have come to a natural end after the refusal of the last contract extension proposal.
Physical conditions and return to the pitch
Currently, the striker is in the process of recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of the last matches of the national championship. The doctors at Roma project the player’s return to ball training for next Friday, February 13th, depending on clinical evolution. Essa recovery is closely monitored by the Argentine technical committee, which still considers Dybala an important piece for specific calls.
In the current European season, the number 21’s performance reflects his tactical importance on the field. Ele has played 22 games, having scored three goals and contributed four important assists to keep Roma in the fight for places in continental competitions. The athlete’s commitment is to finish the season in a professional manner, helping the Italian club until the last day of his contractual relationship in June.
Strategic planning for Boca Juniors
The arrival of a player of the caliber of Dybala requires robust financial and marketing planning on the part of the Xeneize board. President Juan Román Riquelme works to adjust the salary bill and ensure that the structure offered is compatible with the demands of an athlete who has spent the last 14 years in the European elite. The commercial department of Boca Juniors already sees a significant increase in shirt sales and new sponsorship partnerships with the star’s official status.
In addition to the impact outside the four lines, the signing aims to strengthen the squad for the Copa Libertadores dispute. The objective is to have Dybala registered for the knockout stages, if the team advances as expected in the group stage. The player’s international experience is seen as the necessary difference for the club to once again lift the continent’s most important trophy, something that has not happened since 2007.
Changes in the European ball market
The confirmed departure of Dybala forces Roma to look for replacements in the transfer market for the European summer window. The club’s sporting director is already monitoring names in França and Espanha that could fill the gap left by the Argentine in terms of offensive creativity. The savings generated by the departure of one of the highest salaries in the squad will allow investments in younger players with greater potential for future resale.
Market experts point out that the choice of Dybala could trigger a domino effect on other negotiations by South American players operating on Europa. The movement to return home at a competitive age reinforces the prestige of local championships compared to peripheral leagues that offer high salaries, such as those of Oriente Médio. The case of Dybala is emblematic because it involves a player who still attracts interest from major centers in world football.
Professional career and previous clubs
La Joya began his career in professional football defending Instituto from Córdoba, where he quickly caught the attention of international scouts for his ability with his left leg. When he transferred to Palermo, he quickly adapted to the Italian style of play, which resulted in a million-dollar transfer to Juventus from Turim. Caso the move to Boca Juniors comes to fruition, this will be the fifth official club in the striker’s career, completing a cycle that began in the Argentine second division.
The total numbers of Dybala and Europa are impressive due to their regularity and decision-making capacity in big games. Sua vision of the game and precision in long-distance shots have made him one of the players most feared by opposing goalkeepers in the Serie A.
Impact on the Argentine national team
The decision to work for Boca Juniors also involves proximity to the national team’s technical committee, led by Lionel Scaloni. Jogando at Argentina, Maintaining the competitive rhythm is essential for the player to continue being part of the group that defends the world title and seeks new achievements in the Copa América.
Although he was not an absolute starter in the last Copa of the Mundo, Dybala was a fundamental player in specific moments, converting decisive penalty kicks. Sua Versatility to act as a second striker or connecting midfielder offers important tactical variations for the Albiceleste team. The return to domestic football is welcomed by many Argentine fans, who want to see their idols playing in local stadiums again.
