Juventus stalwart Paulo Dybala is expected to land in Malta early this afternoon after agreeing to lend his stellar profile to the nationwide fund-raising campaign in aid of the Community Chest Fund (CCF).
The presence of a top player who, at 22 years of age, is already regarded as one of the most gifted in world football, is expected to capture the attention of many football followers in our country, especially the thousands who support Serie A champions Juventus.
Signed from Palermo last summer, Dybala more than justified Juve’s faith and the money they spent on him as the young Argentine playmaker was one of the most eye-catching performers in the Italian championship last season.
Dybala played a leading role in Juventus’s Serie A and Coppa Italia double success, finishing the season as the champions’ top scorer in the league with 19 goals.
During his stay in Malta, Dybala will be the guest of President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. The highlight of Dybala’s two-day visit is a charity dinner being held tomorrow evening at the Verdala Palace.
Dybala is expected to be accompanied by members of his management team, including his agent Pierpaolo Triulzi who has been instrumental in making the Juve starlet’s visit to Malta possible.
Vanessa Frazier, Malta’s Ambassador for Italy, and Mauro Di Lello, the former Italian defender who has close links with local football and the Malta FA, are understood to have made the initial contacts with Dybala’s management team.
Rio pull-out
Meanwhile, Dybala has confirmed that he will not be joining the Argentina squad for this year’s Rio Olympics as Juventus want all their players to have a solid pre-season in the hope of improving their chances of winning the Champions League.
“I’ve spoken to the club, the directors and the coach (Max Allegri),” Dybala was quoted as saying.
“They considered all the circumstances, we are aiming to win the Champions League so they want everyone to have a good pre-season.
“Last year, we didn’t have a good pre-season, and throughout the campaign there were 40 injuries.
“That’s why they want everyone to be available for the training camp.”
Dybala is convinced that Argentina will have the better of Chile in the Copa America final.
“Argentina have a strong team, better than all the others. We can’t lose the final,” he said.