Dybala: ‘I have a beautiful relationship with Mourinho’

Roma forward Paulo Dybala says he has a ‘beautiful’ relationship with coach Jose Mourinho and revealed his performance against Torino led to his national team call up. The 29-year-old Argentinian moved to Rome in the summer after several years with Juventus and has proved vital to the Giallorossi’s season, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in 12 appearances across Serie A and the Europa League.

Speaking to Zhibo TV, Dybala talked about the hamstring injury that kept him out for a portion of the season and his call up to the Argentina team for the World Cup:

“I did everything I could to play the last challenge against Roma, I spoke to Mourinho and during the week leading up to the challenge with Torino he asked me how I was.

I told him that if he needed me I would be available. I entered the pitch, I felt good and my performance was positive. And that game played also led to the call-up with Argentina.

I did everything to recover and help the team against Torino.

I trained hard to be at 100%, and I did it by working a lot also with Mourinho, with whom I have a beautiful relationship.”

My goal celebration? I am a fan of ancient Roman films, I see them all the time, that’s why I think you have to take to the pitch and fight like that in real life, so I celebrate my goals with a mask, the one the gladiators wore in the fights.”