Roma role drives Donyell Malen’s reported rise to Europe’s leading scorer
BBC Sport reports that Malen has produced a dramatic turnaround since leaving Aston Villa, with his central-striker role at Roma central to the change.
Donyell Malen has scored more goals than any other player in Europe’s top five domestic leagues since making his Roma debut on 18 January, according to BBC Sport.
Malen is reported to have scored 20 goals during that period, ahead of Harry Kane on 16 and Lamine Yamal on 15. BBC Sport also places him first for combined goals and assists, with 22.
The figures mark a sharp reversal from Malen’s time at Aston Villa, where he scored 10 goals and supplied two assists in 46 appearances. BBC Sport separately reports that he has scored 21 goals and provided three assists in 25 matches for Roma, a discrepancy the source does not resolve.
His improved output has coincided with a significant change in deployment under Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini. Malen played 52 per cent of his league minutes as a central striker at Villa; at Roma, 99 per cent of his Serie A minutes have reportedly come through the middle.
BBC Sport reports that Malen is scoring once every 96.7 minutes for Roma, compared with once every 149.8 minutes at Villa. The publication links the resurgence partly to his new role, while noting that confidence and form may also have contributed.
Malen’s revival follows similar improvements by former Premier League players Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund after moves to Serie A, but BBC Sport describes the Dutch forward’s turnaround as particularly pronounced.
