Rafael van der Vaart believes Donyell Malen can become ‘the best player in the world’ after the Borussia Dortmund forward opened up on his desire to take in a second spell at Premier League giants Arsenal.
If you’d missed the first part of the conversation – Van der Vaart speaking about the ‘mega talent’ of a Dortmund forward he fears could fall short of his undoubted potential – you’d have been forgiven for assuming the former Tottenham ace was talking about Jadon Sancho.
The Manchester United misfit provided a timely – if increasingly rare – reminder of his talents with a fine solo effort against Werder Bremen last weekend.
But it’s the man who opened the scoring in that 2-1 win who, according to Van der Vaart, has everything in his locker to join Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and co at the pinnacle of the sport, ex-Arsenal starlet Donyell Malen beautifully taking down a high ball before lashing into the Werder net with a brilliant acrobatic volley.
Donyell Malen wants Arsenal return
“I think he’s so good,” Van der Vaart tells Voetbal Primeur of Malen. “I’ve said it before. It seems like he doesn’t believe (in his own potential).
“The question I actually want to ask him is; Do you want to become the best player in the world? Because he really has everything to do that. I am 100 per cent convinced.”
Malen obviously feels as if he has unfinished business at Arsenal. The jet-heeled attacker did not make a single first-team appearance for the Gunners before returning to the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven, after all.
The £40 million-rated Malen told Voetbal Zone in February that he would jump at the chance to re-join Arsenal too, with his ‘dream’ of playing in the Premier League yet to be realised. If that ‘dream’ is to become a reality, however, Van der Vaart feels that Malen must finally add some consistency to his searing pace and often-emphatic finishing.
Dortmund star frustrates Dutch legend
“I almost want to grab him by the throat,” adds the one-time Real Madrid star. “I really see a mega talent in him. It irritates me that he does not get the most out of it.
“I see a potential that no one has.”
Malen has 13 goals and four assists this season. He opened the scoring against former employers PSV in the Champions League last-16 first-leg a few weeks ago.
In a boost to Malen’s hopes, HITC Football understands that Arsenal are looking at attacking additions this summer. Albeit seemingly a classic number nine such as an Ivan Toney or a Dusan Vlahovic.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
