Dybala's Season Cut Short as Roma Looks to Soulé
The grim news that no A.S. Roma fan wanted to hear has arrived: Paulo Dybala's season has ended prematurely. The Argentine forward suffered an injury in the match against Cagliari and will undergo surgery, marking the end of his campaign and leaving his teammates to fend for themselves in their quest for a top-four finish—just four points away.
In this critical final stretch, the task now falls to Matias Soulé, the designated successor to the illustrious Dybala. The playmaker's recent form will be pivotal for the Giallorossi.
Through social media, Dybala confirmed his decision to undergo surgery to address the hamstring issue sustained during a mere ten minutes on the pitch against Cagliari. This was a collective choice with the club made to prevent any setbacks. Dybala finishes the season—he met the automatic contract renewal criteria through 2026—with 36 appearances, contributing 8 goals and 4 assists across all competitions.
"Dear friends, first and foremost, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support you always show me. After evaluating various options, I've decided to go ahead with the surgery now to return as soon as possible. Although I'll be temporarily away from the pitch, I will continue to support my Roma teammates during this pivotal moment in the season, as well as cheering for our national team from the sidelines during these qualification matches. I'll be back soon, even stronger, promise. See you on the pitch. Forza Roma and vamos Argentina," wrote Dybala.
With Dybala sidelined, Roma leans heavily on Soulé. The young talent arrived from Juventus over the summer for around €30 million, a sizeable investment aimed at replacing Dybala. Initial struggles at Roma saw him grappling to fit into his new surroundings, suffering disappointing performances and the ire of fans, which soured the early part of his season.
However, in recent weeks, manager Claudio Ranieri has rekindled confidence in Soulé. In January, he hailed him as "the future of Roma," and it appears he is delivering on that promise. Soulé has featured as a starter for the last five matches, netting two goals—both critical strikes against Parma and Empoli—and providing an assist. As he frees himself mentally, his play has grown more assertive, and while he hasn't quite reached his full potential yet, glimpses of his talent have certainly started to shine through.
