Aston Villa mistake laid bare by Gian Piero Gasperini’s ‘explosive’ confession after stunning scenes
Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini has admitted that his team would have more points had they secured the signing of Donyell Malen last summer.
The forward moved from Aston Villa in January on loan with an option to buy reportedly worth around £21.6million.
The Villans sanctioned the departures of both Malen and Evann Guessand in the winter transfer window, as Leon Bailey returned from Roma and Tammy Abraham was bought from Besiktas.
Malen scored seven goals for Villa before leaving this season, but never quite managed to capture Unai Emery’s fancy and was often forced to make his impact from the bench.
But since moving to Roma, the 27-year-old has started every game and has discovered a new lease of life.
Donyell Malen stuns in latest Serie A showdown
Roma travelled to last season’s Serie A champions, Napoli, on Sunday, with Gasperini’s team just three points behind their hosts.
I Giallorossi are hoping to return to the Champions League next season, but have Juventus just one point behind and breathing heavily down their necks.
The visitors were in dreamland in Naples after just seven minutes played, however, when Malen was found by Bryan Zaragoza before smashing home.
| Donyell Malen | Vs Napoli |
| Minutes played | 72 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Shots | 3 |
| Touches in opposition box | 12 |
| Recoveries | 2 |
Leonardo Spinazzola’s deflected strike would level the scores, before Roma were handed the chance to go ahead once more when Wesley was fouled in the second half.
Malen stepped up, and placed the ball over Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and into the top corner. Roma would be left frustrated when Alisson Santos equalised again, but there are worse points to earn.
Speaking after his new striker had found his fifth goal in just five appearances since arriving, Gasperini said: “Malen is a very explosive and dangerous player, so it’s normal that he might tire in the final stages.”
“I have always been convinced Malen has the ideal characteristics for my style of football, as he is a complete striker,” he added.
“He can get shots away quickly, is fast, can combine with his teammates. This is a side that needs a striker like him, who is scoring frequently also because we put him in a position to be consistently dangerous.”
“I am not afraid to say that if we’d had Malen in the first half of the season, we’d have a few more points right now”.
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Unai Emery may be made to rue Malen decision
At least some of the decision to let Malen go last month was down to issues with the profit and sustainability rules, but it would not have been a move sanctioned without Emery’s approval.
The Spaniard clearly did not trust the forward, and it could well come back to bite him.
Villa have won just one of their last three games, scoring just three goals in that time. Malen, in just his last two appearances, has found the net four times.
With Roma already set to trigger the option to buy in the Dutchman’s contract, Villa will be forced to sit and watch as their former player thrives elsewhere.
For more on Malen’s Premier League exit, read what the experts are saying at Villa News