Needs playing time for World Cup ambitions
©IMAGO
AS Roma has presented its second winter transfer and signed a center forward for the second time. Former Dortmund player Donyell Malen comes from Aston Villa on loan with an option to buy. This should become compulsory to purchase under certain conditions. Before the 26-year-old, Robinio Vaz had already been signed by Olympique Marseille for 22 million euros.
A loan fee of 2 million euros is being discussed at Malen; if the Dutchman is signed permanently, a further 25 million euros will be due. This would mean that he would just miss the top 10 of Roma’s most expensive signings and would be in twelfth place.
Malen moved from BVB to Birmingham for 25 million euros just a year ago. After ex-Leverkusen player Leon Bailey, he is the second attacker that the Giallorossi have signed from Aston Villa. Due to injury, the Jamaican, who was loaned out in August, has only been a side note in Rome so far. Malen, on the other hand, needs playing time in view of his World Cup ambitions, which he did not get in the form he wanted at Aston Villa – as a regular player. He was on the field in 29 games this season, but only 1,106 of 2,610 possible minutes. He scored seven goals and two assists.
