Roma will buy Donyell Malen from Aston Villa this summer, regardless of qualification for the Champions League.
That’s according to journalist Nicolo Ceccarini on Tuttomercatoweb. According to his information, Roma have already made the decision to buy Malen permanently.
The Dutchman joined the Serie A side on loan from Aston Villa in the January transfer window. That deal includes an obligation for Roma to make it permanent for €25m. That, though, is dependent on them qualifying for the Champions League.
Malen’s form since his arrival has now changed that plan. The 27-year-old has quickly established himself as a key man and put himself among the ‘top strikers’ in Italy.
€25m transfer clause
To date he’s managed six goals in seven games for Roma, scoring against Juventus and a double against champions Napoli as well. The impact he has had has ‘won over everyone’. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini ‘first and foremost’.
This is why Roma have no decided to buy him, regardless of the agreement with Aston Villa. The Italian side are now not bothered about that.
Instead, they are going to buy Malen permanently for the agreed €25m price. There will be no waiting to see if they can qualify for the Champions League first.
Instead, Roma will simply pay the €25m. Aston Villa will also retain a 10% cut of any future resale.
Roma and Aston Villa benefit
That’s a deal that will suit everyone. Roma get to keep their star man, Malen gets to stay at a club where he’s flourishing, and Aston Villa get the €25m they paid in January last year back. That 10% clause could prove to be beneficial down the line as well.
Malen struggled to make an impact at Villa Park during the year he was there. 10 goals and two assists in 46 games was certainly not the return that Unai Emery would have been looking for.
He instead appears much more suited to Gasperini and Italian football. Whether that’s because the manager’s style is a better fit or Italian football is a better fit, is up for debate.
But six goals in seven games to date suggests there’s something going on, and now Roma want to keep him in the capital permanently.
