“Wouldn’t be surprised”: ex-BVB star Malen to break historic record? | OneFootball

Donyell Malen and AS Roma: it’s a perfect fit. The 27-year-old Dutchman is in the form of his life. His coach Gian Piero Gasperini (68) believes the former Borussia Dortmund player is capable of something historic.

When Malen moved from PSV Eindhoven to BVB in the summer of 2021 for a transfer fee of €30 million, he was chosen as the successor to Jadon Sancho (26). But the new signing took a long time to find his form.

Malen’s best spell in Dortmund likely came at the start of 2024, when he contributed numerous goals and assists. Overall, however, his performances remained too inconsistent. In January 2025, he finally left the Black and Yellows for Aston Villa. In 132 competitive matches, he recorded a total of 59 goal contributions.

After a rather disappointing spell in Birmingham, Malen moved on to Roma in January 2026—initially on loan, then on a permanent deal. The Giallorossi paid €25 million for the attacker and handed him a contract until 2030.

As things stand, it is a classic win-win situation. Malen is truly flourishing on the Tiber, and the club is benefiting from the 27-year-old’s clinical finishing. He has so far played 22 competitive matches for AS Roma. In that time, the former Dortmund man has scored no fewer than 20 goals. He has also chipped in with three assists.

Gasperini thrilled with Malen

The excitement in the yellow-and-red half of the Italian capital is so enormous that his coach believes he is on course for a new record. The all-time single-season top scorers in Serie A are currently Gino Rossetti (Torino FC 1928/29), Gonzalo Higuaín (SSC Napoli 2015/16), and Ciro Immobile (Lazio Rome 2019/20), all with 36 goals each.

Under Gasperini, Malen no longer plays out wide as he did in Dortmund, but as a central striker. His coach has now revealed what first stood out to him about the Dutchman last year. “His first touch, which creates space,” Gasperini is quoted as saying by Football Italia. He continued: “With the second touch, he positions himself; with the third, he shoots. I said to myself: if I can bring those three touches closer to goal, he will become incredibly dangerous. And indeed…”

Photo: Getty Images

Malen has already found the net five times in the first two Serie A matchdays. Gasperini hopes the Dutchman continues to play with that same determination. “He has to preserve his ambition, even if he has already scored a few goals,” says the experienced coach, who won the Europa League with Atalanta Bergamo in 2024.

Gasperini believes Malen is capable of a lot. “If he ends up threatening Higuaín’s record of 36 goals, I wouldn’t be surprised,” the head coach said of the former BVB professional.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.