A Sensational Start
Donyell Malen has begun the Serie A season in remarkable fashion, scoring five goals in Roma's opening two matches. The Netherlands forward netted a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Fiorentina in Roma's opener, then added two more goals in another 4-0 victory at Lecce on Monday. That brings his total to 19 goals in 20 appearances since joining the Giallorossi on loan from Aston Villa in January.
The scoring run has put Malen in elite company. According to the Associated Press and WTOP, only two players in Italian league history have scored more in their first 20 matches: Gunnar Nordahl (1949) and José Altafini (1958-59), each with 20 goals. No player had scored five goals in the opening two rounds since Gabriel Batistuta for Fiorentina in 1997 — a comparison that carries extra weight in Rome, as Batistuta transferred to Roma three years later and helped the club win the Serie A title in 2001.
A Clinical Finisher
Malen's goals have been defined by efficiency. He needed only one touch for both goals in the Lecce rout and used a backheel touch to set up the first score of his hat trick against Fiorentina. "He has this ability to control, turn and accelerate all within moments, which are extraordinary characteristics for a center forward," Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini said, as quoted by the Associated Press and WTOP.
The coach drew a comparison to one of Serie A's most prolific strikers of the modern era. "Yes, they do have some similar attributes, though they're a bit different physically. Malen is not quite as robust. But with their speed of execution in controlling and shooting, and that burst of pace over the first few yards, they're certainly comparable," Gasperini said, referring to Gonzalo Higuain, who scored prolifically for Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus.
A Transformation in Rome
Malen's path to this form was not without obstacles. He developed at Ajax and Arsenal's academies before starring at PSV Eindhoven, with subsequent spells at Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa. According to , consistent minutes as a central striker proved elusive in England under Unai Emery, leading to his January move to Roma on loan with an obligation to buy.
Under Gasperini, Malen has found the central role he lacked. He scored 14 Serie A goals in 18 appearances last season, helping Roma qualify for the Champions League, and scored on his debut against Torino, with braces against Cagliari and Napoli, as reported by Heavy. Roma made the transfer permanent for around €25 million on a deal running through 2030.
At 27, the fee Roma activated at the end of last season "seems like a relative bargain," as the Associated Press and WTOP put it. Malen's overall record with Roma stands at 19 league goals in 20 appearances.
A Revitalized Roma
Roma's strong start extends beyond Malen's individual brilliance. The club has two wins, eight goals scored and none conceded, and tops the Serie A table — a position that has fueled hopes of a title challenge for the first time in years.
The attacking partnership with Paulo Dybala has been central to the early success. Dybala assisted on all three of Malen's goals against Fiorentina, and the Argentine playmaker reduced his salary to sign a contract extension with Roma in July.
Roma's management has been active in the transfer market, signing forward Santiago Castro from Bologna for 35 million euros ($40 million), midfielder Rodrigo Mora from Porto for 25 million euros ($29 million), and right back Nahuel Molina from Atletico Madrid for 13 million euros ($15 million). Also joining were midfielder Marten De Roon from Atalanta and center back Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille, according to the Associated Press and WTOP. Gasperini also blocked the sale of Manu Koné, who was reportedly sought by Chelsea.
Looking Ahead
The early momentum faces a significant test on Saturday, when Roma hosts Atalanta — Gasperini's former club. It is a matchup that pits the league's in-form striker against the coach's old side, and a result could further solidify Roma's ambitions.
Off the pitch, the club's management will focus on clearing the final bureaucratic hurdles to gain authorization to build a new stadium, according to the Associated Press and WTOP.
Malen's nickname "Bobby" comes from an Italian tribute song to Bob Marley titled "Bobbe Marley," a small detail that adds to the charm of a player who has captured attention in Rome and beyond. His international experience includes starting all three of the Netherlands' group matches in a recent tournament without scoring, and he was benched for a shootout loss to Morocco in the round of 32.
Roma is back in the Champions League for the first time since 2018-19, and with Malen in this form, the capital club's return to Europe's top competition carries added excitement.