“Bench Again for Pellegrini: Divorce in January Seems Nearer”

Bringing Paulo Dybala back to the heart of Roma has been Claudio Ranieri’s mission from the very first day of his third tenure on the Giallorossi’s bench. In fact, the operation perhaps began even a few days earlier, in London, when the coach flew to England’s capital to talk with the Friedkins. The primary topic of their conversation was indeed, the Argentinian. Dario Marchetti reports on TuttoSport. Ranieri has been true to his word because the Argentine player has essentially always been on the field, except for the first match against Napoli where he only played in the final two minutes. And once again, he will be the player to watch this evening against Milan, a team against whom he has already scored seven times, while also making five assists, totaling twelve goals produced against the Rossoneri. When Dybala sees the ‘Devil’, he ignites, even though at San Siro, against Milan, he has scored only once, and that was a good ten years ago, while he was playing for Palermo. At the “Scala of Football”, he scored again, the last in 2022, wearing the jersey of Roma, but he was up against Inter. The hope of everyone at Trigoria is that he could make his mark again this evening to break a yellow-red taboo that has been lingering for 8 months in away games, and to bring continuity to a Champions climb, which today is still very challenging. Ranieri is making him the center of the project, shielding him from market rumors, warding off the Turkish siren of Galatasaray, and reaffirming the intention to start with him, as well as with Paredes and Hummels, for the future of Roma. The club management and the player will sooner or later have to address the renewal negotiations, regardless of the automatic extension till 2026 that will take effect after a few more appearances. Ranieri seems inclined to confirm the same eleven seen before Christmas against Parma. The only competition is between Pisilli and El Shaarawy, with the ‘Pharaoh’ in the lead who, if he should play, would be positioned on the three-quarters with Dybala and behind Dovbyk. The stage is thus set for yet another stint on the bench for Lorenzo Pellegrini, amid persistent rumors of a possible departure as soon as the January transfer window.