Paulo Dybala ends transfer speculation by signing a five-year contract extension at Juventus

The Argentine has repeatedly been linked with a move to either the Premier League or La Liga, but has signed a new five-year contract at the Italian champions Juventus 

Luke Brown
Thursday 13 April 2017 11:37 BST
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The forward has signed a five-year contract extension
The forward has signed a five-year contract extension (Getty)

Real Madrid transfer target Paulo Dybala has signed a contract extension at Juventus until 2022.

Dybala, who scored a brace as Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0 in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final, has been repeatedly linked with a move to either the Premier League or La Liga, but has committed his long-term future to the Italian champions.

The Argentine joined Juventus from Palermo in 2015 and proved an instant success, scoring 19 league goals in his first season with the club as well as winning three trophies: the league title, the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup.

This season he has been in equally lethal form and has particularly impressed in the Champions League, having scored four goals to help his side stand on the verge of a place in the semi-finals.

The news was announced on the club website with a statement claiming that Dybala was ready to be propelled ‘into the stratosphere of the world game’.

“If last season's stellar showing represented a breakthrough at the very highest level, those to come in the next few years wearing the black and white stripes will be the ones that propel him into the stratosphere of the world game,” the statement read.

“Now operating in a slightly deeper role, the Argentine is coming of age in a Juventus jersey and his performances since the turn of the year have been nothing short of spectacular.

“Clearly, the moments of brilliance that have characterised his stay in Turin so far are in inexhaustible supply.”

The Argentine celebrates with Mario Mandzukic after scoring his second against Barca (Getty)

The 23-year-old was in inspired form against Barcelona, scoring with two sublime first-time finishes to put Juventus in complete control of their tie against the Spanish giants.

Dybala, who was given a standing ovation when he was substituted nine minutes from time, broke the deadlock in the seventh minute and doubled his tally in the 22nd. Giorgio Chiellini added the third, 10 minutes after the break.

Dybala was superb in the win against Barcelona (Getty)

“I'm really happy because since I was a kid I wanted to experience these moments," the Argentine commented after the match.

“It's one of my best nights, but we mustn't ruin it next Wednesday.”

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