Gasperini thrilled with 'extraordinary' Malen
Donyell Malen has had an "extraordinary" impact and surpassed all expectations since arriving at Roma, manager Gian Piero Gasperini declared.
Roma has started the Serie A season with three straight wins, picking up where it left off at the end of 2025-2026 after finishing strongly to snatch Champions League qualification.
It will look to maintain its perfect start away to Torino on Tuesday, when Malen will hope to continue his hot streak in front of goal.
Having joined from Aston Villa in January, initially on loan, Malen has scored 19 goals in 21 Serie A appearances – at least seven more than any other player has netted this calendar yea.
Malen started the 2026-2027 campaign with a hat-trick against Fiorentina, then helped himself to a brace at Lecce on matchday two, though he was kept quiet in Roma's comeback win over Atalanta last time out in the competition.
Gasperini is in awe of his numbers, saying: "It is extraordinary, the statistics around Malen, especially for his sheer consistency.
"I knew that signing Malen would be an important step for us, but he's gone well beyond any expectations."
Malen did not find the net in Roma's 1-1 Champions League draw with Fenerbahce on Thursday. Paulo Dybala played the duration of that match, having also started Roma's first three league games and provided four assists in them.
There had been speculation that Dybala could be rested in Turin, but Gasperini says the Argentine will always be one of the first names on his teamsheet when available.
"If Dybala is fit, then he'll always play, without doubt. If he needs to rest, then it's right that he is given time," Gasperini said.
"I don't like talking about hierarchies of who starts, as that's not fair to players who are giving their all.
"That's not how it works with Champions League teams, because it's not about promoting or dropping players, and that just turns it into pointless controversy."
Should Dybala provide another assist on Tuesday, he would break the record for most assists in the first four matchdays of a Serie A season (since Opta data collection began in 2004-2005 – four other players have four assists in the first four games of a campaign).
Despite Roma's flying start this season, Gasperini feels there is still more to come.
"I am satisfied with the mentality of the team, and we're just starting to get into shape," he said. "We need a great performance against Torino and must forget the last match. Everyone is reliable; it's about seeing how everyone is doing from one game to the next.
"It's all about looking forward, as there is no time in modern football. We do have to be more focused on avoiding goals defensively, though."
Donyell Malen
AS Roma
