Dybala on why he turned down Roma’s No.10 shirt
"Maybe I'll wear it one day but for now I'm happy to have number 21," said Paulo Dybala when revealing why he not get the Giallorossi’s N.10.
Paulo Dybala
decided not to wear
Roma’s N.10 shirt as he thinks it belongs to
Francesco Totti
, the club icon.
The Giallorossi penned a three-year deal with the Argentina international on Wednesday after his contract at
Juventusreached its end.
Totti played in 786 games and met the target 307 times during his time at the club and it ended when the 2016-2017 season was over. The No.10 shirt has not been worn since then.
Dybala was delighted to be offered the number but he thinks that it belongs to Totti.
"I spoke to the general manager and he asked if I wanted to take number 10, which of course is so significant here because of everything Francesco Totti did,"
Dybala said in a club interview.
"I think that shirt and that number should remain his because of what he means to the city and the fans. I thanked him because wearing a shirt like that requires a lot of respect and responsibility.
"I still see it as his shirt. Maybe I'll wear it one day but for now I'm happy to have number 21, which is the number I wore when I first started to be successful. Hopefully I'll now start being successful here too."
Jose Mourinho brought Roma their first trophy after more than 14 years when they won the Europa Conference League last season and the former Juve player can help them win more trophies.
The five-time Serie A title winner is keen on playing under the Portuguese tactician, who he thinks is one of the best coaches ever.
"First of all, I want to get into peak shape so that I'm on a par with the other players mentally and physically and help the team doing my job. I want to help this team to carry on winning, with the mentality they acquired last season thanks to the coach, and with my own experience.
"Of course, the World Cup is around the corner so I'll be doing my absolute best to help this team and reach the tournament in the best shape possible, then hopefully be in the mix for some silverware at the end of the season."
He added:
"Everyone knows who Mourinho is, what he's achieved in the game and what he can do. It was an exciting conversation and we spoke for a long time. It was a very nice chat.
"I've been fortunate to play with some of the greatest players of all time and now I'll get to work with one of the greatest coaches of all time."
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