No, it was not a fever dream. Yes, Paulo Dybala really did score at Barnsley.
It is not every day a World Cup-winning forward rocks up at Oakwell. And, while there were no Tykes fans in attendance during the behind-closed-doors friendly in Yorkshire this week, rest assured there is video evidence proving that Paulo Dybala did indeed chip the ball into the Barnsley net with a typically sumptuous finish.
From a Roma perspective, however, the former Juventus talisman was not the headline story of their trip to England.
Matias Soule, the £21.5 million summer signing, not only set up Dybala’s effort with a pinpoint through ball from the right hand side, he then got on the scoresheet with a picture-perfect lob of his own, albeit one aided by a disastrous defensive mix-up.
Talk about making a good first impression.
Roma star Matias Soule confirms Leicester City interest
Former Juventus whizzkid Soule, following in Dybala’s footsteps after a phenomenal loan spell at Frosinone, is undoubtedly quite the coup for a Giallorossi side who finished a disappointing sixth last season.
Especially given the sheer extent of interest from clubs based in England.
HITC understands that Newcastle United, Leicester City, and an Aston Villa outfit who would bring in Samuel Iling-Junior and Soule’s former Frosinone team-mate Enzo Barrenechea from Juve.
But after travelling to the atmospheric Stadio Olimpico and being bewitched by the famously intense Roma fanbase during a Europa League clash with Feyenoord last season, there was only one club Soule wanted to join when the summer rolled around.
“There were a couple of days when I was afraid it might fall through,” a relieved Soule tells Corriere dello Sport, explaining how those drawn-out negotiations with Roma eventually resulted in an agreement being struck. “And I had tears in my eyes.
“(Coach Daniele) De Rossi called me to reassure me and to convince me. ‘Mister, you convinced me from the first message,’ I told him jokingly. In the end, everything went well, thanks to the significant investment by the owners to bring me to the Capital.
“Being here is wonderful. The negotiations were long. I was anxious about not being able to arrive but everything went well. The Friedkins (Roma’s owners) really wanted me. I immediately understood their ambition for this club and where they want to take it.
“And now I’m here, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Abdul Fatawu returns as Foxes miss out on top target
Soule admits that he was fully aware of Leicester’s interest.
The Foxes have tried on numerous occasions to find a left-footed right-winger capable of emulating Riyad Mahrez’s title-winning impact, and Soule – who idolises compatriot Lionel Messi – certainly shares plenty of the same attributes.
“(Roma) wanted me so much that it was impossible to say no,” the Argentina Under 20 international adds. “Their desire to have me pushed me to consider only this opportunity, even though I had others in the Premier League with Leicester, who had called me.
“And then here are these fans. They are a spectacle. I told my brother that I had never seen such passionate fans. An incredible emotion.
“Thrilling.”
Leicester are due to take on Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League opener just over a week from now. A lack of transfer market activity has the Foxes fans concerned, however, that an immediate return to the Championship could be waiting.
Leicester have at least snapped up one Serie A target in former Atalanta defender Caleb Okoli. Abdul Fatawu’s permanent switch from Sporting Lisbon should also offset the disappointment at missing out on Soule.
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