The on-loan Aston Villa striker netted both goals in the win against Cagliari to be mentioned along with Gianluca Vialli and fellow Dutchman Marco van Basten
ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 09: Donyell Malen of AS Roma poses with the trophy of player of the match the Serie A match between AS Roma and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on February 09, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Fabio Rossi/AS Roma via Getty Images)
Donyell Malen was named Man of the Match after his two goals for Roma against Cagliari(Image: AS Roma via Getty Images)
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Donyell Malen has been compared to Gianluca Vialli and Marco van Basten after his stunning start to his Serie A career.
The on-loan Aston Villa striker netted both goals in Roma’s 2-0 win over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. The win drew the Giallorossi level on points with fourth-placed Juventus as they chase a Champions League place.
The Dutch striker is on loan for €2m with a €25m option to buy that becomes obligatory if Roma qualify for European football next season.
And Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who is without injured Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson, claimed Malen has already shown he can play a vital role for the capital club.
“He has the right strengths for us - we were missing someone like him up front,” said the former Atalanta boss. “He’s the classic player who becomes dangerous if he has space and can even beat his man in tight spaces and can wreak havoc in the box.
“I was absolutely convinced of his ability; he'll score a lot of goals this season
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 10: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on reacts during a AS Roma Training Session at Celtic Park on December 10, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini compared Donyell Malen to Gianluca Vialli after the Dutchman's two goals against Cagliari(Image: Getty Images)
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“We have to be good at serving him well, but we have the necessary qualities in the area that match his characteristics. We're talking about a player with a truly vast repertoire.
Is he like Van Basten? The comparison is more accurate with Vialli; he has those characteristics in terms of movement and creating space for himself. We need to help him become a more solid player.”
Photo of Italian footballer Gianluca Vialli kissing a gold medal after a football game. He has just won the 1998 Cup Winners Cup for Chelsea FC.
The late Gianluca Vialli was a star for Juventus, Chelsea and Italy(Image: Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Malen scored on his Serie A debut at Torino last month and has now opened his account at the Stadio Olimpico.
He was awarded Lega Serie A Man of the Match and in his post-match interview with Sky Sports Italia he was asked if he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Milan legend and fellow Dutchman Van Basten. “Van Basten was a very special player, no!” he said.
“I’m very happy, a good win, I’m happy with the goals, nice assist, everybody played well, so it was a good day.”
23rd JUNE 1988, Munich, West Germany, 1988 European Championships Final, Holland 2 v USSR 0, Holland's Marco Van Basten scores his side's second goal with a spectacular volley (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
Marco van Basten scored a stunning volley in the 1988 European Championships final for the Netherlands against the USSR(Image: Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
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Roma face a trip to defending champions Napoli on Sunday. Gasperini added: “We always try to be up to the standards of our rivals. We have caught Juventus, while Napoli and Milan are there, Inter have gone by now I think, Atalanta and Como are not far behind us. If we are up there after 24 rounds, that is important, but we want to keep growing in attack.
“The arrival of Malen certainly gives us much more. Now we hope to get some of the players back from injury, but it’s undeniable you need a prolific and efficient set of forwards, otherwise you will not achieve the prestigious targets.”
Donyell Malen scored his first two home goals for Roma against Cagliari
Donyell Malen scored his first two home goals for Roma against Cagliari(Image: Getty Images)
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Roma also beat Cagliari in a match without a single VAR intervention.
“It was wonderful, it’s the best! It means everything went smoothly, we didn’t see a lot of stoppages either, so we got to see more football,” Gasperini added.
“For me, that's the best; it means the referee saw everything. You don't always need cameras."
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