Donyell Malen: Aston Villa sold transformed player for foolish price, the stats prove it
The decision that saw Aston Villa sell Donyell Malen to AS Roma in January is one that has seemed to age more and more poorly by the day.
The 27-year-old was initially sent on loan with the Italian side holding an option to buy worth just under £22million.
And how could they not trigger it? The Netherlands international scored 15 goals and provided two assists in just 20 games after making the move.
Malen has continued to thrive this season, and was the star of the show for Roma again on Tuesday as they battered Slovan Bratislava 4-0 in the Champions League.
It remains unclear why Unai Emery never seemed to take to the forward at Villa Park, handing him just 14 starts in his year at the club.
The Spaniard is now facing the consequences of that decision with Malen's valuation surely triple the foolish price Villa let him go for. Industry experts Transfermarkt currently value him at £46m, although Premier League clubs tend to pay way above their valuations.
Donyell Malen stuns again for Roma
Villa would have been open to keeping Malen at the club, but he had grown frustrated of his constant struggle for minutes under Emery.
When Roma's offer came in, few at Villa Park would have imagined him going on to do what he has since.
In just 29 games across all club competitions since leaving the Villans, Malen has scored a staggering 24 goals and provided four assists.
Since the move, no player in Europe's top five leagues has scored as many goals as the forward and only four players have scored more goals than him in the Champions League this season.
Malen was sensational again on Tuesday, scoring and assisting as Roma decimated Bratislava. The striker created three chances and took five shots himself, leading everyone else on the pitch in both metrics.
He also took more touches in the opposition box than anybody else - 10 - despite ultimately featuring for just 59 minutes.
Malen breaks silence on Villa exit
While there will be regret at Villa Park about allowing Malen to leave the club in January, there is likely an acceptance that the explosion would not have happened otherwise.
"It was my decision. I wanted to play and be part of a team where I could take the field every weekend and play an important role," the Netherlands international said earlier this month.
"At that stage I didn’t feel important, so I think I made the best choice. Today I feel I’m in the right place with the right people."
Emery has often been proven right to have not backed certain Villa players, but his decision not to back Malen will go down as a significant failure in judgement.