Dybala welcome highlights passion and huge desire for success at Roma
More than 10,000 Roma fans gathered to greet Argentine forward Paulo Dybala, following his arrival from Serie A rivals Juventus, leaving the 28-year-old with tears of joy and appreciation in his eyes. Having signed on a free transfer and signed a three-year contract, his arrival could help boost the side managed by Jose Mourinho, possibly towards a serious title challenge.
Such was the impressive display of support from Roma fans, keen to welcome Dybala to their club, coverage of the event in the Italian capital became the talk of the football world, reaching everywhere from Timbuktu to Qatar. Footage of the presentation was shared across various different social media accounts, including that of the club, as one clip quickly amassed over 14 million views according to the club’s own media team.
The presentation event was held at the FENDI building, starting with a spectacular light show before Dybala emerged to a huge roar from the crowd. After the new Roma signing answered some questions, highlighting his desire to “start giving back to this amazing fanbase” at the Olimpico Stadium, an emotional Dybala sat on the steps and listened in awe as the Roma fans chanted and sang.
Time to make history at Roma
Considering how passionately supported Roma have always been, it’s perhaps quite surprising they have never managed to achieve more success over the years. Juventus remain by far the most successful club in Serie A history, having won 36 league titles and lifted the Coppa Italia 14 times. By comparison, Roma has only won Serie A on 3 occasions, along with winning the Coppa Italia 9 times.
Internazionale and AC Milan are both well ahead of Roma insofar as the Serie A is concerned, given the Milanese giants are tied at 19 titles apiece. However, both are still behind Roma when it comes to the Coppa Italia, with Internazionale winning the cup competition 8 times and Milan just 5 times.
Roma also remain far behind other teams when it comes to the Supercoppa Italiana, first introduced in the 1988 season, winning the contest between league champions and cup winners on just two occasions. Again, Juventus are the most successful side with 9 wins, followed by AC Milan with 7 and Internazionale with 6, then Roman rivals Lazio with 5 wins.
The last time that Roma won Serie A was in the 2000-01 season, when iconic manager coach Fabio Capello was at the helm, before his subsequent managerial spells at Juventus and Real Madrid. The most recent Coppa Italia victories were achieved under the leadership of Luciano Spalletti, leading the team as they won back-to-back triumphs in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Those were the last pieces of silverware celebrated by fans, until the arrival of Jose Mourinho.
Dybala can help continue the Mourinho revolution
Aside from winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1960-61, the competition often considered a precursor to the UEFA Cup and the Europa League, the furthest the club had reached was the semi-finals of both during the last two decades. In the end, Roma somehow always appeared to fall short of earning a place in the final of either competition.
However, continental fortunes took a turn for the better in the newly established UEFA Europa Conference League, winning the debut edition of the competition under Jose Mourinho. Much to the dismay of supporters, Roma also finished one point behind city rivals Lazio in sixth position in Serie A. Nevertheless, there is the strong sensation that with the arrival of key players like Dybala, this team can push to finish within the top four and maybe even the title.
Looking at the latest odds, bookmakers actually do fancy Roma to finish inside the top four, although they still remain distant outsiders in the title race, which is expected to be challenged between reigning champions Inter Milan and a resurgent Juventus. Fans can discover the best sports betting in Qatar, with guides published in English, covering all the top European leagues and competitions, accompanied by expert advices and tips.
One interesting tip would be to pay close attention to Roma this season, given that Mourinho certainly appears to be building a solid project. Thanks to some astute transfer business in the summer so far, some pundits believe they could become the surprise package of the 2022-23 campaign in Serie A, as the Portuguese coach is never one to be underestimated. Were he to lead Roma to the title, it would justifiably be one of his proudest achievements.
