When outspoken Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini set a minimum €40 million fee on Argentine striker Paulo Dybala, some didn’t bat an eye. The club’s owner has been known for making outlandish remarks as he sacked coaches left and right.
However, just over halfway through the season, people are starting to take notice of the 21-year-old dubbed ‘the new Sergio Aguero’. Dybala has 11 goals in 21 games this season for the Rosanero. He currently sits fifth in Serie A’s capocannoniere standings, the Italian goal scoring leader race. Equally impressive are Dybala’s six assists as he and strike partner Franco Vazquez have enabled the Sicilian club to soar on their return to Serie A this term.
Dybala joined Palermo in 2012 from Argentine side Instituto de Cordoba where he had scored 17 goals in 45 games. Bought for €9m, the teenager struggled to fit in completely, scoring three goals in his first season as the pink and black were relegated to Serie B. That season saw Dybala show potential, but unable to harvest it during a difficult season.
A year later, unable to set the lower division on fire, Dybala scored a mere five goals in 28 matches as Palermo won the Serie B title. Dybala played as second, or fourth, fiddle to Abel Hernandez (14), Kyle Lafferty (11) and Andrea Belotti (10). With Hernandez now struggling for Hull City and Lafferty at Caykur Rizespor in Turkey, Dybala has taken over as the club’s main man.
Dybala isn’t the first gem Palermo have unearthed. The club have found several players in South America that have enabled them to catch a windfall of cash over the years. Edinson Cavani was signed for just over €4m and sold three seasons later to Napoli for €17m.
Argentine Javier Pastore was signed for under €5m and quickly turned into one of Europe’s best attacking midfielders. Two seasons later, big spending Paris Saint-Germain splashed €39.8m out on the player.
Both proved Palermo’s ability to scout quality talent, though Dybala has needed time to adapt and learn since his arrival.
As an owner, Zamparini has never been afraid to sell players early in their Rosanero careers. Cavani and Pastore lasted no more than three seasons with the team. Dybala is in his third season with the club and Zamparini expects the striker to leave in the summer as the Italian owner tries to manipulate the market with his extraordinary transfer claims.
Compared to Manchester City’s Aguero, Dybala has all the same tools in his arsenal. Some may feel Dybala may not be up to the physical demands of the English Premier League as Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have all enquired about his availability for next season.
Dybala stands over an inch taller and £19 heavier than Aguero. Physically, the ’new Aguero’ may be able to stand up to the rigours of the Premier League better than the ’original Aguero.’
Teams are circling, not just Dybala, but for several players that have been developed in Serie A in recent years. The Argentine could be just one of several Argentine strikers, along with Mauro Icardi and Gonzalo Higuain, that could be on their way out of Italy next summer.
Follow Drew Farmer on Twitter @CalcioFarmer. Drew writes for www.ForzaItalianFootball.com and hosts the Serie A Football Fancast.
