ROME, ITALY – APRIL 18: Donyell Malen of AS Roma is put under pressure by Berat Djimsiti of Atalanta during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on April 18, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Donyell Malen has revealed the key role Gian Piero Gasperini played in convincing him to join Roma, with the Dutch striker speaking for the first time since signing a permanent deal with the Giallorossi until 2030 following a stunning debut campaign in the Italian capital.
The 27-year-old, who scored 14 goals in 18 Serie A appearances to help fire Roma into the Champions League, was effusive about the coach who unlocked his potential after a frustrating spell at Aston Villa.
“What convinced me? Certainly the name of Roma, and the club itself, but also the ambitions of the club and our coach,” Malen said, with quotes via Retesport.it. “When we spoke, in just a few words, he made me feel important straight away and at the heart of the project.”
Malen dedicates prolific form to teammates and Gasperini system after Roma sign him permanently
Asked whether he had expected such an immediate and prolific impact in Serie A, Malen was humble in his response.
“I certainly hoped and expected to do well,” he said. “But if I reached these numbers and scored so many goals, I owe it above all to the help of my teammates on the pitch and the coach who put me at the centre of the attack from the start.”
On his most important goal in a Roma shirt, Malen pointed not to the most spectacular but the most meaningful.
“Probably it is not the most beautiful, because it was a penalty, but the spot-kick I scored at Parma was truly fundamental for our league position,” he said. “In that moment I also felt very strongly the joy of our supporters.”
Malen also addressed comparisons to iconic Brazilian striker Ronaldo that had emerged among Roma’s fanbase.
“Ronaldo was a footballer of another level,” he said. “But it is enough for me to score goals and score them for Roma, helping the club reach its objectives.”
