Malen hails ‘special’ Dybala connection after matching Totti record
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineDonyell Malen has praised his growing partnership with Paulo Dybala after continuing his impressive start to life at Roma in their 2-0 victory over Torino.
The Dutch forward scored again at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino as Roma moved to the top of the Serie A table, while his understanding with Dybala continues to develop under manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
The Italian press has already dubbed the pair a “dream duo” and coined the nickname “Dybalen” for their partnership.
Malen said: “My partnership with Dybala? It’s fun.
“Dybala made a great pass, I’m sorry he didn’t get the assist because the goalkeeper touched it. The important thing was to score.”
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The goal against Torino also saw Malen enter the Roma history books after he reached six goals during the opening stretch of the season.
The 25-year-old matched Francesco Totti’s tally from the beginning of the 2001-02 campaign, placing him among only three players in the club’s history to score more than five goals in the opening four matches of a season.
Only Pedro Manfredini, who scored seven goals during the opening four games of the 1960-61 season, has a better tally than Malen’s current return.
Malen said: “Breaking records? I know how important Totti is for Roma. I really enjoy playing this football and breaking all these records.”
Gasperini, meanwhile, has stressed the importance of managing his squad as Roma compete across multiple fronts.
The coach explained his decision to substitute Malen early in the second half, pointing to the demands of playing three matches in eight days.
Gasperini said: “We need to get everyone in this squad stepping up a level, it was our third game in eight days, and you can’t have players with 90 minutes that regularly.
“If we manage to give them 20-30 minutes off, it can make a difference in the long run.
“We also need to get those in the wake of champions like Dybala and Malen to step up, ready to be protagonists.”
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