Malen on his time at Roma: “The city and the fans are fantastic.” | OneFootball

Donyell Malen opened up in a long interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, retracing all the stages of his career.

The Dutch striker, who joined Roma in January, spoke about his childhood and his first steps with the ball. You grew up in a rural area of ​​Holland, on a farm. Is that true?: “Yes, I’m not from the city, but from the quieter northern part. There aren’t many people, but there are many farms. It’s a little different than what people imagine, but I’m very proud to have come from there. My grandparents lived there, about 30 seconds from home; we practically lived together, moving between houses. I played football outdoors with my grandfather. It’s a vivid childhood memory, and I always think back to it with great pleasure. They called me the farmer.”

Your early days in football: “We had to drive a lot. My mom took me there until I was 13, we’d go to Amsterdam and back. She also worked, and when I was younger, I often slept with my grandmothers. That was a long time ago.”

Was it strange for your classmates to have someone who lived in a small town?: “I think it was weirder for me. But I think after two months, I felt comfortable with everyone; they were kind to me. I have four kids; I took them to the playground. There was a fence, then the cows… And the smell spread throughout the entire playground! They said, ‘It stinks in here.’ Or something like that. I was used to being around animals, which was really fun.”

When you were at Ajax, you threw a party and all your teammates got lost: “They didn’t know where I was from! My mother and I talked about throwing a party near Amsterdam, as we were traveling towards the end of the year, so it would be easier for everyone. But then we thought we could have it at home, since we have a big garden. They all came to our house, and it was very complicated for them! Everyone was lost, but in the end, when I meet my former teammates, I always talk about that day: it was very different from what they were used to!”

Your arrival at Arsenal and your relationship with Henry, your coach at the time: “The move was a big change. You go from a small place to a big city, a big club, with different mentalities and cultures. But I think I adapted and that it was a useful experience in my career. It helped me grow as a person and a footballer. Henry? Yes, he was my coach at Arsenal, I think for a year and a half.”

Henry taught you the movements of a striker: “Yes! He helped us understand how to kick, how to score. I’m very grateful for what he did, even if it was only a small part of my career. Being with him helps you, and I think it’s a special, fantastic moment.” You wrote phrases on the wall to keep believing in your dream: “Yes! I always wrote phrases like ‘I have to do it,’ ‘keep going.’ They were wooden walls, you could see them clearly.”

On Rome: “I like it. I think the fans and the city are fantastic, and I also like the weather, as well as the food… I like pasta, as well as pizza. But the city itself is beautiful. Ask my teammates: I’m always out and about! I love being outdoors.”

And what was your first impression of Rome? “When I arrived and the fans were waiting at the airport, they were screaming… Yes, the way they welcomed me and embraced me was beautiful: I really appreciated it.”

If you had arrived at the start of the season, would you have won the top scorer award? “I would have had a good chance. But football doesn’t work like that. I arrived in January and did my best to help Roma achieve their goals. That’s much more important than being a regular starter.” Is it true that your teammates call you ‘D9’ in reference to Ronaldo? “Sometimes! They do that when I play well. When I play badly, they call me something else!”

Was there a teammate who was more important at the beginning?: “Everyone was. I knew Rensch, who I had played with in the Netherlands. But I think everyone tried to create a bond. Some don’t speak perfect English, but it doesn’t matter. Here, it’s about feelings, about being together. I think I integrated well.”

Was there anything that helped you make this impact?: “I don’t think there’s anything specific tied to the pitch. I think football is made up of moments, just being there. I worked hard, I trained a lot to get here, I felt ready. But sometimes things just have to go the right way. You have to commit yourself.”

On the World Cup: “What will it be like? We have a good chance, excellent players. We’ve been together for a long time and we’re very excited.”

Your favorite Italian player?: “I followed Serie A a lot because many Dutch players play here, but it’s a bit embarrassing to say it… Totti was truly special!”

A role model you follow?: “Not now… Only Malen! In Italy, defenses close down, there are very tactical teams. Sometimes they press man-to-man, and the defenders are sometimes tall and good.”