According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Roma striker Donyell Malen stated in an interview from the Netherlands World Cup training camp that joining Roma and transitioning to center forward was a crucial decision he made last January.

Malen said that one of the main reasons he left the Premier League for Italy was Roma's assurance that he would play as a central striker. His discussions with Mourinho also influenced his decision.

"For me, that was a very important factor," Malen told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I was very confident I made the right choice. So far, everything has been fantastic: the reception, the integration, and the relationship with the fans. Roma is a great place to live. We are all happy because I adapted quickly here."

Regarding his impressive goal-scoring record at the start of the season, Malen said: "I can't explain it. I came with passion and motivation. After that, everything went smoothly, and fortunately, the results were good. But this is credit to Roma, not just me. If we didn't work together, we wouldn't achieve our goals."

The striker also noted that scoring 14 goals in half a season, a level of efficiency he hadn't achieved in a long time, helped Roma return to the Champions League after seven seasons. "It's wonderful," Malen said. "The fans are very happy. For a player, this feeling is exhilarating. Now I can't wait to play in the Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico. I can imagine the atmosphere there will be fantastic, even more intense than usual." Regarding the team's excellent performance and their ambitions for next season, Malen stated: "Of course. We want to win something, that is our goal."

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