The Argentine star is expected to renew through 2028 on a reduced base salary with performance bonuses, as Roma and the Friedkin ownership move quickly to secure their franchise talent.
The love story between AS Roma and Paulo Dybala appears ready for another chapter.
After leading Roma back to the Champions League with a brilliant end-of-season run, the Argentine star is now close to signing a new contract extension that would keep him in the Italian capital through at least 2028.
According to reports in Italy, negotiations accelerated significantly over the past week following direct contacts between Dybala’s agent, Carlos Novel, and Ryan Friedkin.
The framework of the agreement is reportedly already in place.
Roma is working on a two-year extension with an additional club option for a third season, and both sides now appear aligned on the sporting vision moving forward.
The remaining discussions primarily concern salary structure.
Dybala currently earns approximately €8 million net per season, a figure Roma no longer considers sustainable under its current financial model.
However, the player has reportedly shown strong willingness to compromise in order to remain central to the club’s future project.
Initial proposals from Roma reportedly started slightly above €2 million net annually, but sources suggest the final agreement could settle closer to €3 million per season plus substantial performance-related bonuses tied to appearances and sporting objectives.
That structure reflects the delicate balance Roma is trying to maintain.
On one hand, the club fully recognizes Dybala’s importance as the technical and emotional leader of the team.
On the other, Roma also understands it cannot build the entire project financially around a player whose injury history continues to require careful management.
The solution, therefore, is expected to involve a hybrid contract model: lower guaranteed salary, higher incentives, and greater flexibility tied to availability and team success.
It is a compromise that appears to satisfy both sides.
Dybala, after all, spent nearly ten months waiting for Roma to fully commit to renewal talks while outside interest remained surprisingly quiet.
That changed dramatically after the player publicly hinted at uncertainty following the match against Parma Calcio 1913, when he admitted that the recent derby “might be my last.”
Those comments immediately accelerated movement from ownership.
Since then, Roma’s position has become much clearer: keeping Dybala is now considered a priority, especially after his decisive role in securing Champions League qualification.
The Argentine delivered another spectacular finish to the season, combining moments of individual brilliance with an increasingly mature leadership role inside the locker room.
Even coach Gian Piero Gasperini openly expressed confidence about the renewal after the final matchday.
“I think he will stay,” Gasperini said. “I put him directly in contact with ownership — more than that, what else could I do?”
Roma also believes Dybala’s presence is essential heading into a Champions League campaign where the club expects to face Europe’s elite, from Real Madrid CF to FC Barcelona, Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC, and Paris Saint-Germain FC.
Still, Roma is equally aware that the squad cannot depend exclusively on him physically across a 50-match season.
That reality is already influencing summer transfer planning.
The club intends to strengthen the roster with additional high-level attacking options capable of maintaining technical quality during periods when Dybala must rest or recover physically.
The goal is not to reduce his importance.
It is to protect him.
Because when healthy, few players in Serie A still change games quite like Paulo Dybala.
And Roma clearly does not want to lose him now.
