Sorrentino: Dybala deserves Ballon d’Or

Stefano Sorrentino has responded to Paulo Dybala’s performance against Chievo by suggesting that the striker is a likely future recipient of the Ballon d’Or.

Dybala came off the bench to score a well-taken solo goal against Sorrentino’s Serie A side on Saturday, creating space in a crowded penalty area to unleash an unstoppable shot past the diving Sorrentino.

In conversation with Mediaset Premium after the match, the veteran keeper heaped praise on the Argentina international, a player he first encountered when Dybala was signed by his former club Palermo as a teenager.

“It would’ve been better for us today if he had continued to warm up and not come on.” Sorrentino said jokingly.

“I am fortunate enough to know him very well and I am therefore not remotely surprised by how well he’s doing. I was able to play with Dybala for two and a half years, so imagine the number of times I had to fly to my right and left in training.

“He can still improve a great deal and will become the best. He has everything it takes to win the Ballon d’Or – I just hope when it happens, he invites me to the party.”

“When Dybala takes on players like that, it’s really tough to anticipate him. A lot of his game is about timing and with that left foot he can do what he wants. It’s all very complicated being a goalkeeper against him,” the 38-year old stopper added.