When Donyell Malen made his move from Borussia Dortmund to Aston Villa nearly a year ago, he was filled with excitement. Fast forward twelve months, and that thrill has significantly faded. Frustration grew in Birmingham, primarily due to limited playing time. However, his recent transfer to Serie A has provided a fresh impetus for his career.
Malen is making an impact. In his first five matches for AS Roma, the Dutch forward netted five goals, a feat that had only been achieved before by the legendary Gabriel Batistuta during his time with the Giallorossi in the 2000s. This is indeed a remarkable start.
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Malen has already showcased his scoring prowess twice, including in a recent high-stakes match against Napoli, where he was instrumental in securing a notable 2-2 draw for Roma.
Gasperini: The Key Factor
While Italian media debates whether Roma’s acquisition was a stroke of luck or a significant transfer surprise, his new coach Gian Piero Gasperini is well aware of the talent he has in Malen.
“I always believed that Malen possessed the ideal attributes for my style of play: he is a complete striker—quick, agile, and able to connect with his teammates,” the 68-year-old expressed after the match against Napoli on ‘DAZN’.
📸 CARLO HERMANN – AFP or licensors
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“This team requires a striker like him. He scores frequently because we put him in positions where he can be a constant threat,” Gasperini added, emphasizing the main reason behind Malen’s remarkable resurgence.
Unlike his time at Aston Villa and largely at Borussia Dortmund, where he often operated on the wing or in a more advanced role, Gasperini has deployed Malen as a center forward. The chance to play in a true number nine role was a significant factor in Malen’s decision to join the Italian side.
“I prefer playing in the center. I believe I can be more effective as a genuine center forward, creating opportunities for the team and scoring goals. That’s why I favor this role,” Malen said during his introduction in Rome about a month ago.
Malen: The Next Lookman?
Gasperini appears to have found a crucial piece for his tactical puzzle in Roma. Similar to his successful spell in Bergamo, where he even claimed the Europa League title, the astute coach utilizes a 3-4-2-1 formation that enables the striker to act both as a finisher and a creative playmaker. Ademola Lookman showcased this synergy in his breakout season at Atalanta two years ago.
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Malen has the potential to achieve similar successes. His involvement in the attacking third is striking: he averages 4.2 touches per game inside the opponent’s box and boasts an 82 percent pass completion rate in the offensive half. Moreover, he has completed twelve successful dribbles and fired off 25 shots across his five appearances. He is proving to be the dynamic and threatening player that the club envisioned during the January transfer window.
Currently, Roma sits in fourth place in Serie A, 14 points behind league leaders Inter, and they aspire for their first Champions League qualification since the 2017/18 season. Gasperini believes they would be closer to achieving this goal if they had secured Malen earlier: “I’m not hesitant to state: If we had Malen in the first half of the season, we would have garnered a few more points.”
Malen would have likely benefited from an earlier change of environment, saving him from several months of frustration and stagnation. He has not just switched clubs; he’s also altered his perspective. And all parties involved are so pleased that the mandatory purchase option in the summer now seems like an incredible opportunity.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.