Roma’s return to the Champions League, seven years after their last participation, also bears the signature of Donyell Malen.
Arriving in January, the Dutch striker made an immediate impact on the Italian league, quickly establishing himself as a key player in the Giallorossi’s squad.
His 14 goals played a decisive role in the club’s run to third place and earned him an immediate place in the fans’ hearts. Now the goal is to build on the achievements of his first few months in charge.
However, the team’s results come first. Malen himself reiterated this in an interview with Il Messaggero, explaining that the most important achievement of last season wasn’t his personal one.
“It’s always nice for a striker to score a lot of goals and help the team win. Ultimately, last year’s great success wasn’t my score, but the Champions League placement we achieved. Roma hadn’t played in the Champions League for many years. It would be a dream to replicate what we achieved last year,” said the Dutchman.
Malen then also discussed his personal ambitions, without losing sight of the collective dimension: “Do I dream of becoming top scorer? The important thing is to play at a high level. It’s not just about scoring goals, but also about creating lots of chances and providing assists. I know my finishing qualities, and if I improve week after week, who knows how far I can go.”
