“I used to lock myself in the bathroom to cry” - When Paulo Dybala made emotional admission about losing his father
Argentine forward Paulo Dybala had a rough childhood. The AS Roma star lost his father at the age of 15 and worked tirelessly to honor the latter's wishes.
Dybala's career has been deeply influenced by his father, who had famously rejected the advances of Lionel Messi's former youth team Newell's Old Boys when Paulo was just eight years old. The former Juventus star joined Instituto de Cordoba to hone his skills; It was during his time there that he lost his father.
In an interview with La Repubblica after signing for Juventus in 2017, Paulo Dybala recalled the heartbreak he suffered after the passing of his father.
"To protect me, they [his family] didn't tell me everything. I was hoping that he would recover. Today, I dream about him and I wake up in tears," he revealed."
Dybala continued:
"It [living away from his family after his father's death] wasn't easy. My family was far away. I used to lock myself in the bathroom to cry. But I didn't give up."
The 30-year-old also spoke about his father's dream of one of his three sons becoming a professional footballer. His two brothers, Gustavo and Mariano, didn't make it despite their talent so it fell on Paulo to fulfil the wish.
"My father had a dream that at least one of his sons would become a footballer. So, I had to do it in order to honor the memory of my father and realize his dream," Dybala said.
He added:
"I dedicate my goals to him. Football has helped me a lot and I was a player more by his will than my own. He taught me to fight and never give up. His dream was to see me on the football field. I know that today my father is proud of me."
After graduating from Instituto de Cordoba, Dybala moved to Europe with Italian side Palermo. His performances at the club alerted Juventus' director general, Giuseppe Marotta, who pushed the club to sign him for €40 million. After making over 200 appearances for the Bianconeri and scoring 115 goals, Dybala joined Roma in 2022, where he is currently plying his trade.
Paulo Dybala on being labeled the next Lionel Messi
In the same interview in 2017, Paulo Dybala was asked about the tag of the "next Lionel Messi" he was given by then-Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini. The versatile attacker swatted away all comparisons saying he only wanted to be the best version of himself.
"I am Dybala and I want to be only Dybala, although I understand that there are comparisons. There is only one Messi, as there was only one Maradona," Dybala said.
The comparisons with Messi were obvious, with both men being diminutive left-footed attack-minded players who broke through early in their careers. However, staying true to his word, Paulo Dybala has carved his own path in footballing history and still has a fair way to go.