Roma postpones renewal talks, putting Dybala and Pellegrini decisions on hold

AS Roma have pushed several contract-renewal discussions into next week, according to Italian media reports on May 20, delaying decisions on Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Zeki Celik as the club plans for the summer. AllRoma reported that some of the most important talks had been postponed, while Corriere dello Sport and Il Messaggero have separately described a broader freeze and review of expiring deals in recent weeks. (corrieredellosport.it) Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Stephan El Shaarawy and Zeki Celik are among the Roma players whose contracts were described by Il Messaggero as expiring in June. Corriere dello Sport reported on May 15 that Ryan Friedkin had put renewals back among the club’s priorities and that sporting director Ricky Massara had already met Dybala’s agent and reopened contacts around Pellegrini. (corrieredellosport.it) The delay leaves Roma balancing two tracks at once: deciding which senior players fit Gian Piero Gasperini’s plans and trying to reduce a wage bill that Italian media say the club wants to cut. Corriere dello Sport said the combined gross cost of Dybala, Pellegrini, Celik and El Shaarawy exceeds 35 million euros and that Roma’s overall wage bill is about 140 million euros, with a target of dropping below 100 million. (allroma.it) ### Which players are directly affected by the postponement? AllRoma said the talks put back until next week involve Dybala, Pellegrini and Celik, players it described as central to Gasperini’s technical project. The same report said the postponement concerned some of Roma’s most important pending negotiations ahead of next season. (ilmessaggero.it) Il Messaggero’s earlier reporting added El Shaarawy to the list of players with contracts running to June. Corriere dello Sport also said Roma had longer-term extensions for Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante under discussion before the ownership pause. ### Why have the talks been pushed back? Corriere dello Sport reported on April 22 that Roma’s ownership had told the club hierarchy that no new agreements would be signed before the end of May, when the team’s objectives and internal roles would be clearer. (corrieredellosport.it) The newspaper said the message from the Friedkins was that no signatures would go on paper until there was more certainty over results and prospects. (allroma.it) AllRoma’s May 20 report framed the latest move as a postponement rather than a cancellation. Taken together, the reports indicate that Roma are still working on renewals, but have not yet moved several cases to signature stage. (ilmessaggero.it) ### What are the sticking points in the Dybala and Pellegrini cases? Corriere dello Sport reported that Dybala currently earns 8 million euros net and Pellegrini 6.5 million euros plus bonuses. The newspaper said Roma are studying a two-year renewal for Dybala at a fixed base of 2.5 million to 3 million euros and a Pellegrini extension with a cut of about 60% from his current salary. (corrieredellosport.it) Il Messaggero reported that Pellegrini’s salary was viewed by the club as too high and said Dybala’s recurring muscle injuries weighed on Roma’s thinking. The same report said Celik was seeking 4 million euros, a figure the newspaper described as too high for Roma. (allroma.it) ### Where does Gasperini fit into the process? Gian Piero Gasperini wants to keep working with Dybala, Pellegrini and Celik, Corriere dello Sport reported on May 15. The newspaper said Ryan Friedkin had asked Massara to continue cutting costs while still meeting the coach’s technical requests. (corrieredellosport.it) Il Messaggero reported that Gasperini had shown with his selections that he still counted on Pellegrini. That assessment, according to the newspaper, made Pellegrini the player with the best chance of staying among the most uncertain cases. ### What happens next week? (ilmessaggero.it) Next week is expected to bring fresh contact rather than final certainty. AllRoma said the postponed talks are due to resume then, and Corriere dello Sport reported that Massara had already seen Dybala’s agent, Carlos Novel, and reconnected with Pellegrini’s entourage. The next concrete step is whether Roma turn those contacts into formal offers before the June contract deadlines cited by Il Messaggero for Dybala, Pellegrini, El Shaarawy and Celik. (corrieredellosport.it) For now, the club’s next round of meetings with Massara and player representatives is the clearest marker to watch. (allroma.it) (ilmessaggero.it)