Gasperini compares Malen to Vialli after netting brace against Cagliari

Gian Piero Gasperini compared on-loan Roma forward Donyell Malen to Serie A great Gianluca Vialli after the Dutchman netted a brace against Cagliari on Monday.

Roma won 2-0 at Stadio Olimpico thanks to goals in either half from Malen, the first of which saw his burst of pace finish with a deft chip over Elia Caprile in the 25th minute.

And the Netherlands international was on target again just after the hour when he tucked home from close range after getting on the end of Zeki Celik’s cross into the box.

Malen has now scored three goals in his first four Serie A matches, just one fewer than he netted in his previous 21 appearances in the 2025-26 Premier League for Villa.

“I am convinced he will score a ton of goals this season, so we must know how to give him the right service for his characteristics,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.

“We’ve got the quality in the attack that is difficult to contain now, as he has a vast repertoire.”

In the post-match interview, Malen was compared to both Vialli and Dutch legend Marco van Basten, but he brushed off that resemblance.

Vialli netted 123 goals in 325 Serie A appearances, while Van Basten scored 90 times in 147 outings for AC Milan from 1987 to 1995.

“Van Basten was physically very different too, but I do see more similarities with Vialli,” Gaspenini added.

“In his power, the movement to shake off markers, diagonal runs attacking the space, there is something in the Vialli mould.”

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Roma have now won 15 of their first 24 Serie A games. They have only managed to achieve this twice before, in 2007-08 and 1985-86, finishing second in both those seasons.

It was also their 11th clean sheet in 24 Serie A games this season, with only Como (12) and Inter (13) managing more in the current campaign.

Six of these have come on home turf. Cesc Fabregas’ Como (seven) are the only side to have achieved a better record at home this season.

Roma are now fifth in Serie A, level on points with Juventus in fourth, and Gasperini believes the club’s January additions have them well-equipped for the rest of the campaign.

“We always try to be up to the standards of our rivals,” Gasperini said.

“We have caught Juventus, while Napoli and Milan are there, Inter have gone by now, I think, Atalanta and Como are not far behind us.

“If we are up there after 24 rounds, that is important, but we want to keep growing in attack. The arrival of Malen certainly gives us much more.

“Now we hope to get some of the players back from injury, but it’s undeniable you need a prolific and efficient set of forwards, otherwise you will not achieve your targets.”