Maatsen texts, Emery's influence, special tattoos - Donyell Malen interview after Aston Villa transfer
Donyell Malen believes he can become the latest forward to be revitalised by Unai Emery after joining Aston Villa from Borussia Dortmund.
The Dutch international could make his debut this weekend against West Ham after staying on the bench in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal, while he will not be available to feature against AS Monaco on Tuesday night but can be registered for the Champions League knockouts. Villa paid around £20m for Malen, who had struggled for form this season after ending last term as Dortmund's top scorer.
"In January, I spoke to my agent and from there spoke to them and had a really good feeling with the plan and what they are trying to do with the club," Malen said about his move to Villa. "I thought it was a good step for me. I was interested straight away.
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"I called Ian [Maatsen] and he texted me a few times. He gave it the thumbs up. He said it was a good club. They have international players, strong players in the squad. They have good Premier League players."
Malen was identified as the prime target to add more pace and versatility to Emery's forward options. He essentially replaces Jaden Philogene in the squad after the winger's move to Ipswich Town for a similar fee.
"What he [Emery] has done to the club is really special," Malen insisted. "I think he is a great coach when you look at what he has done in his career, the prizes he has won and the players he has developed. It was a big reason. The forwards he had under him always provided good numbers. That is what forwards need.
"I think I am a direct forward, quick. I can get toward the goal and get goals and assists. I have played multiple positions up front. I have played as a number nine and on the left and right.
"I feel comfortable in all of these. It doesn’t matter where I am asked to play, I will be there. I think as a player it is a good thing to have, being able to play different positions. It will have helped."
"I think it is very direct, the best league in the world," he said about playing in the Premier League. "There is a lot of intensity. The whole way it is played will suit me, I think. I played in Newcastle last year and really enjoyed that. We won and it was a really good game.
"It was always something I dreamed for [playing in the Premier League]. I was in the Arsenal academy so I went to a lot of games when I was 16 and 17. I have watched a lot of Premier League games at their stadium so it was something I always dreamed of.
"I came from Ajax which is a big system and academy. I learned different things, a lot of tactical work, dribbling, it just helped me prepare for men’s football. It definitely gave me a taste for English football but it is academy football, so it is a bit different."
Despite only being 24 years of age, Malen still brings a wealth of experience to the Villa squad having played in the Bundesliga and Eredivisie, the Euros and a Champions League final.
"It’s the biggest competition in the world," Malen admitted when asked about continuing to play in Europe's elite club competition. "I played in it for the last few years so for me it was a very important thing. It is where you want to play.
"I played against my old team, PSV, which was a big game for me. We didn’t play that great but we went through. Then we played Atletico, which was one of the big games of the season. Unfortunately I was injured and watched from the stands. It was when we won that game people started saying 'we can do this'. It was going to be Real Madrid, Man City or PSG."
"I think in the group stage we had Newcastle, Milan and PSG. And people said right away: 'They’re out'. But we picked up a lot of points, made it through and then I think it got a decent draw after. From there it can go very quickly from the quarter-finals. It was a special run. I wish we had won it. I wish we had won it. It was a special day but… The whole game we played well, but it was not to be."
After coming through the ranks at Ajax, Malen joined Arsenal in 2015, but sought regular first-team football back in his homeland with PSV. The tattoos spread across his right arm pay tribute to some of the most important people and moments of his life, including the date of his first born child. An drawing of his grandfather Jooprei stands out in particular.
"He always supported me," Malen said. "When I was eight years old I went to a different amateur club. It was 30 minutes away but he drove me every day. When I went to Ajax he sadly passed away and he never saw me play for a professional club.
"But I have a lot of good memories. Yes. He has not seen me play professionally but I know he has seen a lot."
