Paulo Dybala transfer: How life in Cristiano Ronaldo's shadow pushed Juve star to Tottenham and Manchester United
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy After Paul Pogba fulfilled his wish of returning to Manchester United, his former club Juventus knew they needed to point to a new face as the man to lead them into the future, a player fans could identify as the shining jewel of the Old Lady’s crown. By the summer of 2017, Paulo Dybala was widely recognised as one of world football’s most promising talents, a player who – alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappé – was ready to take over from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Dybala was given a prominent role as the Bianconeri unveiled their new kits, also inheriting the club’s history-laden No 10 shirt that had previously been worn by so many iconic stars. Almost unplayable at various points in the season, the idea of him forming an attacking partnership at international level with Messi was already in play when Ronaldo’s decision to join Juventus shocked supporters across Europe.