This was originally a shot of Dybala departing the field and shaking hands with... I have no idea who that guy is. Oi, suit boy! Get out of that damned suit and put on a training kit with your initials! 3 piece suits have no place on a football sideline! (Even one as well cut as that one.) I mean sure, if you're from MILANO where they probably do half of their training on a catwalk then sure, wear your fancy threads. But we Romans are all about VICTORY! If you aren't wearing the Capitoline Wolf somewhere on your apparel - and I'm talking apparel that shows that you are ready to do your sacred duty and charge into battle on the pitch if called upon, just as I was wearing at the game - then it is shameful, SHAMEFUL I say!

Anyway, after I selected the photo I noticed incoming replacement Mattia Almaviva (#78), who had replaced Dybala and in particular the way he was holding his hand in front of his mouth. "What on Earth is he doing?", I wondered. Then I scanned back through the previous shots. After giving Dybala a brief hug on the sideline, he ran onto the field... crossing himself. "Oh, THAAAAAT's what he's doing", I realised.

In 2024 Almaviva played primarily as a second striker in the Roma U18 team, having been in the U17 team the prior year. (He turned 18 in February.) He was in the squad for 22 of 34 matches, starting in 18, substituted in in 3 and on the bench for 1. In that he scored 7 goals with 1 assist.

Gee it would be nice to have a home grown striker in a few years...