Dybala sends clear signal to Juve bosses
MILAN: Paulo Dybala was on target as Juventus beat Covid-hit Udinese 2-0 on Saturday and appeared to send a message to the club over contract talks, while Ciro Immobile led the Serie A scoring charts after his early double helped Lazio to a 3-0 win at rock-bottom Salernitana.
Argentina forward Dybala swept home a classy finish from Moise Kean’s lay-off to put Juve ahead in the 19th minute of a largely drab contest at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, but it was his reaction to the strike which raised eyebrows.
He did not celebrate his seventh Serie A goal of the season and shot a stern look to the stand where the Juve hierarchy was sitting, with observers suggesting he was making clear his unhappiness about the delay to the renewal of his contract.
The 28-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of the season and he is waiting to sign an extension which Italian media report should take his annual salary up to €8 million a season, plus a further €2 million of bonuses.
The Gazzetta Dello Sport reports that the deal had already been agreed in principle for some time but that Dybala has been frustrated by continued stalling by the club.
Weston McKennie sealed the win with 11 minutes remaining, taking Juve level on 41 points with fourth-placed Atalanta, who have played two games fewer and host leaders Inter Milan on Sunday.
Udinese had nine players out of action with Covid-19 infections and struggled to lay a glove on an underwhelming Juve team who were missing central defensive pair Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.
They sit 14th, four points above the relegation zone alongside Sampdoria, who lost 2-1 to Torino in Saturday’s early match.
Italy forward Immobile netted twice in the first 10 minutes at Salernitana to give the away side a lead that they never looked like relinquishing and take his league tally to 17.
RESULTS
Juventus 2 (Dybala 19, McKennie 79) Udinese 0; Salernitana 0 Lazio 3 (Immobile 7, 10, Lazzari 66); Sampdoria 1 (Caputo 18) Torino 2 (Singo 27, Praet 67)