Arriving almost discreetly during the last winter transfer window, Donyell Malen (27) has finally become in a few weeks one of the main faces of Serie A. Loaned by Aston Villa, the Dutch international striker (51 caps, 13 goals) continues to ignite the Stadio Olimpico and carries the European ambitions of AS Roma. On Sunday, the native of Wieringen did not deviate from the rule he set for himself. Author of a decisive double against Parma, the Roman number 14 offered a precious success to his team (3-2) by scoring a decisive penalty at the end of added time. Enough to confirm his sparkling form and position him in second place in the ranking of top scorers with 13 goals.
XXL statistics
Under the orders of Gian Piero Gasperini, Malen seems, in fact, to have reached a milestone. The Italian coach no longer hides his admiration for his striker, whom he considers to be the missing piece of his system. After a double achievement against Naples last February, Gasperini already declared: “I’m not afraid to say that with Malen from the start of the season, we would have taken several points more”. The Italian technician went even further in his praise: “It has the ideal characteristics for my football. He is a complete, precise attacker, capable of finishing in all situations.. Considered by many observers as a winger, Malen was finally repositioned in the center by Gasperini and the performance of the principal concerned proves the transalpine coach right.
After scoring three goals in his first four matches, the former PSV and Dortmund player has continued to gain momentum. A few weeks ago, the Italian agency ANSA even pointed out that no striker recruited by Roma had made such a start since Gabriel Batistuta. But beyond the statistics, it is above all Malen’s attitude that impresses his teammates. Hardworking, intense in the pressing, always oriented towards the collective, the Dutchman quickly integrated himself into the Roman locker room. His technical agreement with Paulo Dybala is already wreaking havoc in Serie A. The Italian press is even talking about a duo capable of sustainably relaunching Roman ambitions.
The Italian press is a fan!
In addition to his impact on the field, the one who is loaned with a compulsory purchase option (under certain conditions) also shines through his state of mind. After his double against Naples, when he had just been elected man of the match, Malen refused, as such, to be satisfied with the draw obtained: “I’m not satisfied, we wanted to win. Roma is a big club with big ambitions.. A statement that left its mark on fans and illustrated his competitive mentality. Rented to Trigoria, Malen is on cloud nine. A success also justified by the Gasperini style: “At Roma we attack constantly and press a lot. I feel in great shape thanks to this way of playing”noted the Batavian striker.
Praised by his coach, trusted by his teammates and pampered by Giallorossi fans, the center forward trained at Ajax also delights the Italian press where the superlatives are now multiplying. La Repubblica thus evokes “the man that Gasperini absolutely wanted”while several Roman media believe that the Giallorossa attack has regained a European dimension thanks to him. Its influence even goes beyond the simple statistical framework. Against Bologna, he once again delivered a total performance with a goal and an assist, confirming his central role in Roma’s rise in the standings. Now fourth in Serie A with the same number of points as AC Milan and a little behind Juve, Roma are dreaming more than ever of the Champions League and in the Italian capital, many already think that Donyell Malen is the key player in the Roman revival.
