Koeman defends Roma star Malen ahead of World Cup despite blistering Serie A form

Koeman defends Roma star Malen ahead of World Cup despite blistering Serie A form The Netherlands national team head coach Ronald Koeman has had to come out and publicly defend Roma star Donyell Malen ahead of their nation’s first game at the 2026 World Cup, despite the striker’s blistering form in Serie A in the second half of the 2025-26 season. Malen criticised for Netherlands form despite hitting 14 goals in 18 games for Roma Malen joined Roma on loan with an option to buy from Aston Villa during the January transfer window. That option to buy became an obligation after Roma qualified for Europe , joining on a four-year contract running until the summer of 2030 at a cost of €25m. Donyell Malen holds up his Roma shirt after joining the Giallorossi on loan with a potential obligation to buy from Aston Villa (picture via www.asroma.com) Malen played a pivotal role in Roma’s qualification for the Champions League, transforming the Giallorossi attack with his 14 goals from 18 Serie A appearances. Despite only moving to Italy midway through the season, Malen finished joint-second in the league’s top goalscorer race, and was only three shy of Capocannoniere Lautaro Martinez. However, Malen has faced criticism back in his homeland after missing a pair of sitters during the Netherlands’s warm-up friendlies ahead of the 2025-26 World Cup, and head coach Koeman has had to come out in defence of the Giallorossi star. Koeman admitted that Malen had not been ‘efficient’ enough in front of goal during the Netherlands’ recent friendlies, but said that this would only be a concern if Malen was also lacking in attitude, which he insists is not the case. “He’s shown that he can score,” said Koeman. “He hasn’t completely forgotten how to do it. It would be more worrying if his commitment had dropped. But this isn’t the case. “But, efficiency is decisive in football. That was very low, too low.” The Dutch attack is currently under the stewardship of former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is currently serving as one of Koeman’s assistants. Koeman joked that it might be van Nistelrooy’s fault that the Dutch strikers have not hit form in front of goal with the national team. “He’s been here since February, maybe it’s his fault then,” Koeman joked with the press. “I see him every day with his laptop, sitting with the guys, showing them videos, talking to them about their choices. Ruud has great experience and can help us a lot.”