Why Dybala could be 9 games from new Roma contract

Paulo Dybala had been on the verge of leaving Roma in the summer, but could now be only nine games away from an automatic contract extension.

The club had effectively shaken hands with Al-Qadsiah in August and he had been reportedly offered €75m in wages spread over three years to play in the Saudi Pro League.

La Joya had even gone so far as to empty his locker and say goodbye to teammates and staff at the Trigoria training ground, only to change his mind hours later.

Since then, his decision has made him a hero to the Roma supporters, who saw it as a sign of his love for the Giallorossi colours.

Dybala ready for new Roma deal

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport and Retesport, Dybala is now ready to extend his stay at the Stadio Olimpico even further.

There is a clause in his contract that would prompt an automatic extension at the same wages if he makes a certain number of appearances.

They have to be from the start and playing for at least 45 minutes, over the course of the three years in his current deal representing 50 per cent of games.

So far, he has featured in 93 out of the 129 matches Roma have played since his arrival, starting 72 of them and playing at least 45 minutes in 69 of those.

This is 53.5 per cent of Roma’s fixtures, so if the season were to end today, his contract renewal would already be automatic.

If there are another 23 games to be played between Serie A, the Europa League and Coppa Italia, then he’d have to play only nine of those to activate the clause.