Donyell Malen Transformed into Europe's Top Scorer Since Roma Move
A change in position and tactical role has revitalized the Dutch forward's career in Italy.
Since joining Roma in January, Dutch forward Donyell Malen has emerged as Europe's most prolific scorer, a stark contrast to his previous spell in the Premier League. In just 25 matches for the Italian club, Malen has recorded 21 goals and three assists, significantly improving his scoring rate from his time at Aston Villa.
At Villa, the 27-year-old scored 10 goals and provided two assists in 46 appearances. His minutes-per-goal ratio has decreased from one every 149.8 minutes at Villa to one every 96.7 minutes with Roma. This transformation appears to be driven by a tactical shift, with Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini deploying Malen primarily as a central striker.
While at Aston Villa, Malen was utilized across the frontline, spending only 52% of his league minutes in a central role. In contrast, 99% of his Serie A minutes have been as the focal point of Roma's attack. This positioning allows him to maximize his attacking instincts and impact.
French football journalist Julien Laurens noted Malen's importance to Gasperini's system, stating that the forward has been "incredible since January" and "really efficient, super clinical." Laurens added that Malen is "at the heart of everything they do with the ball."