When Donyell Malen transferred from Borussia Dortmund to Aston Villa practically a 12 months in the past, he was nonetheless really euphoric. Twelve months later, little to nothing of that remained. The dissatisfaction in Birmingham steadily elevated, partly attributable to a scarcity of enjoying time. By transferring to Serie A, he has now given his profession a brand new route.
Malen is delivering numbers. In his first 5 video games for AS Roma, the Dutchman scored 5 objectives. Earlier than him, solely the good Gabriel Batistuta achieved this with the Giallorossi within the 2000s. A legendary begin, certainly.
Commercial
Malen has already appeared twice as a double scorer. This was additionally the case within the current prime match towards the champions from Naples. Malen virtually single-handedly led the Romans to a formidable 2-2 draw.
Gasperini because the Key
Whereas the Italian newspapers speak about Roma’s stroke of luck or the largest switch shock of current years, his new coach Gian Piero Gasperini knew precisely whom he was signing.
“I used to be at all times satisfied that Malen has the perfect qualities for my soccer: He’s an entire striker, fast to complete, quick, and may mix together with his teammates,” stated the 68-year-old after the Napoli match on ‘DAZN’.
📸 CARLO HERMANN – AFP or licensors
Commercial
“This group wants a striker like him. He scores so actually because we put him in positions the place he’s constantly harmful,” Gasperini continued. This additionally highlighted the primary cause for Malen’s considerably enhancing kind.
In contrast to at Aston Villa and largely at Borussia Dortmund, Malen doesn’t play on the wing or in offensive half-positions beneath Gasperini, however as a middle ahead. The prospect of enjoying as a real quantity 9 was one of many principal arguments for a transfer to the Italian capital.
“I desire enjoying within the heart. I feel I might be extra harmful as a real heart ahead, create probabilities for the group, and rating objectives. That is why I like this place,” Malen stated at his introduction in Rome about 4 weeks in the past.
Malen the New Lookman?
Gasperini appears to have discovered the essential piece for his success idea with Roma. As in Bergamo, the place he even gained the Europa League, the crafty coach depends on a 3-4-2-1 system, the place the striker acts as each a finisher and a skillful ball distributor and preparer. Ademola Lookman demonstrated this impressively in his breakthrough season at Atalanta two years in the past.
Commercial
Malen can attain related heights. His involvement within the remaining third is spectacular: He averages 4.2 touches per recreation within the opponent’s field and has a go completion fee of 82 p.c within the offensive half. Moreover, he has accomplished twelve profitable dribbles and brought 25 photographs in his 5 appearances. He presents himself as decided and harmful, simply because the membership had hoped within the January switch window.
Roma is fourth in Serie A, 14 factors behind leaders Inter, and hopes for the primary Champions League qualification for the reason that 2017/18 season. The Giallorossi could be even nearer to this purpose if they’d acquired Malen in the summertime, claims Gasperini: “I am not afraid to say: If we had Malen within the first half of the season, we’d have a couple of extra factors now.”
Malen would probably have benefited from an earlier change of surroundings as nicely. He would have been spared a couple of months of frustration and stagnation. Malen has not solely modified golf equipment but in addition views. And everybody concerned likes it a lot that the obligatory buy choice in the summertime is nearly a present.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.