Dybala: ‘Juventus like Barcelona’

By Football Italia staff

Paulo Dybala calls Juventus “a great club” and admits the Champions League final defeat was “a nightmare”.

The forward has been given the number 10 shirt by the Bianconeri, and despite links to Barcelona he’s happy in Turin.

“In my position, I know they are rumors,” Dybala told the New York Times.

“I see what is on the TV and in the newspapers, but my friends, my family, people in Córdoba, they see them, consume them and assume it is all true, that tomorrow I am going to Barcelona or Real Madrid.

“They all write to me: ‘Are you going?’ ’Are you staying?’ “Will you play for Barcelona?’ It is hard to explain to them how these things happen, how there is all of this information.

“Juventus is a great club,” on the same level as Barcelona.”

Dybala also confirmed to the newspaper that his contract contains no release clause.

La Joya was asked about the Champions League final, which saw the Old Lady beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in Cardiff.

“I kept thinking it was a nightmare, hoping that I would wake up.

“We had beaten very important teams on the way. We had never conceded more than two goals, and they scored three in 45 minutes.

“It was 45 minutes when we were not ourselves, 45 minutes that destroyed everything.

“In football, you always have the chance for revancha [revenge]. There is a phrase in Argentina: it is an espina clavada, a thorn in your side, something that hurts you.

“The pain of losing that final will be with me until I lift that trophy. I will be a lot calmer then.”

The Argentina international previously played for Palermo, and he discussed the difficulties of playing in Serie A.

“It is very difficult to score goals in Italy,” Dybala said.

“Even if we play against a team in a lower position, we might only win 1-0 or 2-0. They do not come to look for the game.

“In Spain, it is more open: Real and Barcelona might win 6-0. In England or Germany, it might be 4-3.”

Dybala’s idol is Lionel Messi, and his discussed swapping shirts with the Barcelona man after Juve’s 3-0 Champions League victory.

“It can be hard, swapping jerseys when you are losing. You are in a bad mood, you are not thinking of these things.

“But Leo is a good person; he knew before that I wanted it, so he came up to me at halftime and said there was no problem.”

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