Why Real Madrid rejected chance to sign Paulo Dybala this summer

Real Madrid rejected the chance to sign Paulo Dybala from Juventus this summer, according to a report.

Dybala has been heavily linked with an exit from Turin this summer with both Manchester United and Tottenham interested in the Italian’s services, but is seems he was offered to Madrid earlier in the summer.

The LaLiga giants though turned down the opportunity, according to Diario Madridista, via the Daily Star, with Zinedine Zidane content with his attacking options.

Real have done summer deals for Rodrygo, Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic and it seems Zidane was more than happy with his forward options, instead he is apparently focused on adding to his midfield.

It now looks like Dybala will stay in Turin, at least for one more season.

Italian outlet Tuttosport (via calciomercato.com) have claimed that the club’s hierachy is ‘increasingly confident’ of keeping Dybala in Turin for the season ahead, with only a huge offer of around ‘€70 million to €80 million’ enough to cause a re-think from the Juve chiefs.

It’s understood the complex issue of Dybala’s image rights have scuppered transfer talks with several suitors, including Spurs, this summer.

Dybala’s image rights belong to Malta-based Star Image Company, but Marca claims the situation is complicated further because the player is “currently embroiled in a court case (with Star Image Company), after having withdrawn from a contract with them in 2017 under bad terms”.

Dybala.Mandzukic

The Spanish outlet claimed any interested party would have had to have pay a significant sum to Star Image for Dybala’s image rights, which would have pushed the price for Dybala to well over the €70m mark.

Dybala endured a down season with the Bianconeri last year, contributing just 10 goals in all competitions – down from 26 the year prior.

The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid appeared to unbalance Dybala’s role within the team, and his lessened impact sparked speculation that the 25-year-old would leave Serie A for pastures new ahead of the 2019-20 season.