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Red-Hot Malen has Manchester United on High Alert
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- Red-Hot Malen has Manchester United on High Alert
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Denny Medley
Donyell Malen has turned into the top scorer in Europe's major leagues for 2026. He has more goals than Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland. The Dutch striker plays for Roma now and faces a crumbling Manchester United team on Tuesday night. United sits fourth from the bottom in the Premier League after a loss to Chelsea. Malen brings eight goals in his last eight Serie A games to Old Trafford. This is a nightmare scenario for a club that has not won a game in nearly two months.
The numbers show a player who has found his best role. In 2026, Malen has 18 goals from open play. That is two more than Lamine Yamal and four more than any other player in the big leagues. He also scored twice against Real Madrid in the Champions League last month. His start at Roma included a hat-trick against Fiorentina. He even scored goals past David de Gea for Cagliari and Udinese recently. A red card suspension did not slow him down at all.
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A Long Road to the Top
Malen was once a young prospect at Arsenal over a decade ago. He admitted his early days there came too soon for him. Speaking to Sky Sports last year about those early days, he explained: "I was this skinny [kid]." He was honest enough to admit that it all came too soon for him. He told the outlet: "I was only 16 when I trained with the first team. Maybe I was not really 100% ready. Looking back, I learned a lot in those two and a half years there. But I made my steps in a different way."
He was prolific at PSV but struggled to stay consistent at Borussia Dortmund. His ability to play many spots on the front line confused some coaches. At Aston Villa, Unai Emery used him in various roles. "We are practicing with him in different positions, attacking third, sometimes right side, which is a little bit of a priority, but as well as a No 10 and as a striker," Emery said at the time. Malen acted relaxed about the mix of roles. "I have played all the positions by now at this stage, so for me it does not really matter."
But deep down, he wanted one specific thing. "I just want to be close to the goal," he said. Emery knew this desire well. "He likes to be close in the opponent's goal and he likes to score goals." The problem was Villa had Ollie Watkins up front. Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini finally let Malen play where he wanted. "He wanted to be a centre-forward, and I always thought that is where he was stronger too because he is deadly near the penalty area," Gasperini noted. The coach admitted he did not expect such high numbers. "Admittedly, I did not expect his numbers to be so astonishing."
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United's Crisis on the Pitch
Manchester United faces a different kind of crisis on their own side. Paul Merson of Sky Sports says the team will be in the relegation zone within a month. United lost 2-0 to Chelsea on Saturday and dropped to fourth-bottom of the league. In all competitions, they have remained winless for nearly two months. Goal difference is the only thing keeping them above the drop zone right now.
For manager Michael Carrick, Merson believes conditions will deteriorate before improving. The fans love Carrick, but the people making decisions upstairs might be in trouble. Merson warned that the club might need to change managers soon. He also criticized the squad depth and the lack of discipline. If Lisandro Martinez gets sent off again, Merson says he would never play for them again under Sir Alex Ferguson. The current players earn so much money that they do not seem to fear punishment. Merson said the team lacks a quick fix to their problems.
The Real Test on Tuesday
The matchup on Tuesday night is a clear test of where each team stands. Malen is the most dangerous attacker in Europe right now. He has proven he can score against top teams like Real Madrid. United has no quick answers to stop a striker in this form. The club has spent money on players like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, but they are not scoring 20 to 25 goals a season. Merson calls them "nice players" but says they are not good enough for United.
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The midfield is another weak spot. Merson questioned the £50 million paid for Andre Santos. He says you cannot build a house on a puddle. The team needs players who perform at a high level every single week. Instead, they get a four one week and a nine the next.
