New Roma buy Wesley reveals career turning point and Dybala’s message | OneFootball

New Roma signing Wesley reveals he was working as a parking attendant only five years ago, but he started ‘screaming’ in his home just a few days ago, when he received a text message from Paulo Dybala.

Brazilian right-back Wesley released his first interview as a Roma player after completing a permanent transfer from Flamengo.

“I’m very happy, also with the welcome from the fans at the airport. They showed me great affection. It was 6 am, but 100 people were waiting for me, and I was happy,” he told the club’s official YouTube channel.

“Roma have marvellous training facilities and I can’t wait to play at the stadium. As we say in Brazil, they are crazy passionate. They remind me of those of Flamengo, who also have great passion.”

Wesley opens up about his Roma dreams for 2025-26

Frederic Massara with new Roma buy Wesley (asroma.com)

What are his dreams for this season?

“I dream of winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League,” Wesley replied.

This is the first time the 21-year-old leaves his native country to play in Europe.

“It was very difficult to leave Brazil, but coming to Europe has always been a dream, and now I am at a great club like Roma,” he said.

“I’m very happy, I’m doing this for my family, and I’d leave Brazil again to come here.

“Gasperini is an excellent coach, and I can’t wait to know him and talk to him. He is familiar with my playing style. I’m an attack-minded player, and I have to work on many aspects. I play wide, either in a 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 system. As I always say, I do the attacking phase well, so I can do well defensively as well and vice versa.”

Gasperini was appointed just a few weeks ago after nine years at Atalanta, where he won the Europa League in 2023-24.

Wesley continued his interview by explaining how he became a professional footballer.

Wesley thought football was ‘not’ in his destiny

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 13: Wesley of Flamengo controls the ball during the match between Flamengo and Atletico Mineiro as part of Brasileirao 2024 at Maracana Stadium on November 13, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

“I started playing football quite late, in 2017, when I started playing consistently in a youth sector, I was eight. I didn’t pass four or five trials at Figueirense and Tubarao, but in the end, I got approved by Figueirense,” he said.

“However, the club was not in a good financial situation, so I was told to inform the club if I had found a better option, because they would release me. Therefore, I spoke to Tubarao and joined them in 2019, but then COVID arrived. At that moment, I thought I’d stop playing and start working.

“I started working with my mum and my sister in a restaurant, where my mum was a chef. I worked as a parking attendant. I thought football was not in my destiny because when I started playing seriously, COVID arrived.

“My sister kept sending me motivational messages on Instagram as she wanted to push me to play football. At the end of 2020, I decided to return after a one-year break. Tubarao called me in 2021, asking me if I could play five games with them. I accepted because I was doing nothing. I called my agent and said I wanted to play football again. I played three of those five games. I shot a video, and my agent sent it to all his friends.

“From that moment, I was contacted to make more trials. Flamengo called me in 2021.”

Wesley has picked the No.43 at the Stadio Olimpico.

QUITO, ECUADOR – APRIL 22: Wesley França of Flamengo runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Gian Franco Allala of LDU de Quito during the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2025 Group C match between LDU Quito and Flamengo at Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Quito, Ecuador. (Photo by Franklin Jacome/Getty Images)

“It’s a number that belonged to a great player like Dejan Petkovic, but when I was in the first team from the youth sector, you don’t pick a number,” Wesley explained.

“Flamengo give you one after a draw. My first number was 46 and the following season it was 43. From that moment, I started my development, so I kept it and I even tattooed it. To me, it’s a lucky number.”

Roma star Dybala texted Wesley before he formally joined Roma on Monday.

“He asked how I was doing, and he said he was waiting for me. He told me to text him if I needed anything,” Wesley revealed.

“I jumped when I read the text and started shouting in my home. I was telling my wife: ‘Dybala texted me, Dybala texted me. He’s a champion and I’m a big fan. I thanked him.”

Wesley hopes to continue to winning tradition of Brazilian right-backs at the Stadio Olimpico.

“It’s an honour to wear this jersey,” he concluded.

“Cafu and Maicon are big inspirations for me, and I hope one day I’ll inspire other players.”