Paulo Dybala slams 'big mouth' Matteo Guendouzi and accuses ex-Arsenal man of bullying younger players as he explains why he waved shin guard in his face in heated confrontation

Dybala has reignited tensions from the fiery Rome derby in April 2024, shedding light on his clash with Lazio midfielder Guendouzi. Speaking on Sergio Aguero's podcast La Casa del Kun, the Roma forward explained the heated exchange, revealing he targeted Guendouzi due to his alleged mistreatment of younger players. The infamous incident, where the Argentine waved a shin guard with a picture of Argentina's World Cup win in Guendouzi's face, now carries added context: "That guy talks too much and picks on the youngsters," Dybala said.

Dybala's comments tap into wider criticisms of Guendouzi’s attitude, which once saw him fall out with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. For Dybala, the issue wasn’t just rivalry it was personal. He cited several instances of Guendouzi disrespecting young players, including Matias Soule, prompting his on-pitch outburst. While the clash ended without disciplinary fallout, it left a lasting image in a derby known for its passion and tension.

Dybala was a guest alongside his Roma teammate Leandro Paredes on La Casa del Kun, a podcast hosted by former striker Sergio Aguero in Argentina. During the episode, he revisited his heated confrontation with Guendouzi during the Rome derby. Reflecting on the clash, which saw the pair go head-to-head before being separated by team-mates, Dybala opened up about what triggered the incident.

He said: "That Frenchman has a big mouth and he annoys the youngsters in particular, he always takes it out on them. He would tell them: 'I'll buy you a ticket, I'll send you home', he always did that to the youngsters. For example, Soule played for Frosinone the year before and he told us that he always told him: 'I'll buy you one'."

The Argentine playmaker admitted that the French international's behaviour made his blood boil, leading him to deliberately seek the Frenchman out during the derby: "It made me really angry, so I went to the pitch to look for him. We said everything."

He then revealed a personal moment of symbolism that ended their exchange: "Then I remembered that they had just given me the shin guard with the photo of the World Cup (won against France), and I showed it to him. He didn't say anything."

The April 2024 derby finished 1-0 in Roma’s favour, in the same match Dybala’s shin guard had a picture of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win over France, a detail that added symbolic sting to his jab at Lazio's midfielder. Guendouzi’s rocky tenure at Arsenal ended due to disciplinary issues and personality clashes with Arteta, who preferred more team-oriented players.

For Dybala, this revelation adds a chapter to his Roma legacy, passionate, loyal, and never afraid of confrontation. His future at the club remains secure, though always subject to transfer window speculation. As for Guendouzi, the accusations may reignite questions about his locker room presence, especially as Lazio navigate European football and aim to maintain discipline under pressure. Whether this feud stays isolated or flares up again remains to be seen, but the derby’s fire is far from out.