Following his move to AS Roma, playmaker Paulo Dybala has revealed why he rejected the opportunity to wear the club's famous No. 10 jersey.
The Argentine recently left Juventus after running down his contract with the Bianconeri.
It was in Turin where the attacking midfielder became synonymous with the No. 10 jersey, and once he completed his move to the Italian capital this week, the diminutive player was offered the same number in Rome but instead opted to take the No. 21 shirt.
The Argentina international has now insisted he made this decision out of respect for Giallorossi legend Francesco Totti, who played for Roma a total of 782 times and scored 307 goals for the club.
"They asked if I wanted to take the No. 10, which has significance here for everything Totti did," he explained, as per Italian Football TV.
"I think that shirt and number should remain his because of what he means to the city and the fans. I still see it as his shirt.
"Maybe I'll wear it one day."
With Dybala having stated he is keen on building on the team's success last season by winning more silverware, manager Jose Mourinho was apparently a pivotal factor in bringing the playmaker to the club as they look secure Roma's first league title since 2001.
The 28-year-old is currently with the Serie A team in Portugal as preparations for the 2022/23 season take place. The team from Rome are set to face French side Nice and Mourinho's former club Tottenham Hotspur, before their league campaign gets underway against Salernitana.
