Donyell Malen becomes street art mural

Roman street artist Drugi has created a new mural depicting Donyell Malen as a Super Saiyan, the iconic transformation from the Dragon Ball anime series. The artwork joins murals of Francesco Totti and Agostino Di Bartolomei in Drugi's collection celebrating Roma legends and key figures. The Malen mural arrived just hours before the Derby della Capitale against Lazio, marking the Dutch winger's elevation into Roma's cultural imagination alongside the club's greatest symbols. Malen has established himself as a central performer for Roma in recent months through goals, consistent displays, and decisive contributions that have made him one of the team's primary protagonists. His presence in Drugi's street art gallery reflects how quickly he has won over supporters and become integral to the squad's identity. The timing of the mural, released ahead of the derby, carries symbolic weight—Roma fans hope Malen's form will deliver in the high-stakes match. The Super Saiyan depiction represents a transformation narrative that resonates with Roma's fanbase. For many supporters, Malen has already undergone that transformation on the pitch; the hope now is that another transformation—one of tactical execution and winning mentality—will carry Roma to victory in the derby.

Ludovica Pagani, partner of Roma forward Stephan El Shaarawy, has posted a heartfelt tribute on social media expressing gratitude and affection for the player. Her message emphasizes El Shaarawy's deep devotion to AS Roma, suggesting his commitment and emotional connection to the club are deserving of wider recognition. The post reflects on the player's attachment to the Giallorossi, highlighting the personal significance Roma holds for him beyond his professional role.

Andrea Abodi, Italy's Minister for Sport and Youth, commented on the recent scheduling crisis surrounding the Derby della Capitale and its overlap with the Rome Masters tennis final. While welcoming the resolution, Abodi stressed that the situation should never have arisen in the first place. He stated: "It is good that an agreement has been found, but to the extent that we should never have reached this point. These things are easily foreseeable. Once again, as in other circumstances, we hope that lessons have been learned from this page that was not particularly bright." The derby calendar conflict highlighted organizational shortcomings in Italian football administration. Abodi's remarks underscored frustration that such predictable conflicts require intervention rather than being prevented through proper planning. He expressed hope that stakeholders would reflect on the incident and improve future coordination. Abodi also addressed the upcoming Italian Football Federation (FIGC) presidential election, noting that Giovanni Malagò and Giancarlo Abete are the two candidates to replace current president Gravina. He questioned whether responsibility for past failures lay solely with the president or whether the federal council shared accountability. Abodi emphasized that new leadership alone cannot guarantee improvement without effective implementation of policy: "The programs are all good, the difference is made by their implementation. These programs have been circulating for almost 20 years, there is nothing new, the only thing is whether we can actually do things. And to do them, we need the will."

Roman street artist Drugi has created a new mural depicting Donyell Malen as a Super Saiyan, the iconic transformation from the Dragon Ball anime series. The artwork joins murals of Francesco Totti and Agostino Di Bartolomei in Drugi's collection celebrating Roma legends and key figures. The Malen mural arrived just hours before the Derby della Capitale against Lazio, marking the Dutch winger's elevation into Roma's cultural imagination alongside the club's greatest symbols. Malen has established himself as a central performer for Roma in recent months through goals, consistent displays, and decisive contributions that have made him one of the team's primary protagonists. His presence in Drugi's street art gallery reflects how quickly he has won over supporters and become integral to the squad's identity. The timing of the mural, released ahead of the derby, carries symbolic weight—Roma fans hope Malen's form will deliver in the high-stakes match. The Super Saiyan depiction represents a transformation narrative that resonates with Roma's fanbase. For many supporters, Malen has already undergone that transformation on the pitch; the hope now is that another transformation—one of tactical execution and winning mentality—will carry Roma to victory in the derby.

Matías Soulé is struggling with form and may start on the bench for Roma's upcoming derby against Lazio, with head coach Gasperini considering either Niccolò Pisilli or Lorenzo Pellegrini as his replacement in the starting lineup. The Argentine winger has been back in action for six weeks following a groin injury but has not yet regained the sharpness that defined his earlier performances this season. Despite Gasperini regularly relying on Soulé since his return, the coach is weighing fresh legs and physicality as potentially decisive factors in one of the season's most important matches, with both Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen considered untouchable starters. This would not constitute a rejection of Soulé but rather a tactical management of energy and game momentum. The approach mirrors Gasperini's use of fresh substitutes in the Parma victory, where impact from the bench proved decisive. Soulé could be deployed as an impact option later in the match, particularly if Roma's opponents tire—conditions that might allow the winger to capitalize on dribbling and create shooting opportunities. His goal tally has been dormant since January 10 against Sassuolo, and he managed only one shot on target in his initial weeks back before recording an open header miss against Parma. One year ago, Soulé produced a memorable goal in the derby that became emblematic among supporters. His performance in the coming match could influence Gasperini's future plans for him, as Aston Villa reportedly prepares a significant offer to sign the player.

Roma captain Bryan Cristante has spoken ahead of Sunday's Derby della Capitale against Lazio at the Olimpico, a match crucial to the club's Champions League qualification bid. The midfield leader emphasized the significance of the fixture for both sets of supporters and stressed that Roma must win to keep their European hopes alive. "The derby is always the derby. State of form doesn't matter," Cristante said. "We know we must win and we'll put everything on the pitch to achieve it. The whole city is stirring, everyone is activated, and you feel in the air that the week is different." Cristante highlighted the importance of maintaining balance during such a high-pressure match. "If you put too much heart in it, you lose the clarity needed to win, and vice versa. You need a good mix of everything to pull it off," he explained. The captain praised forward Donyell Malen, calling him "devastating in the box" with excellent speed and composure in front of goal. Cristante also commended head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical approach, noting that the squad has remained committed to the manager's ideas even during difficult moments and has learned his systems progressively. Regarding Champions League qualification, Cristante stated: "The Champions is our objective. We've had a great season and it would be ugly to throw it away at the end like this. It doesn't depend only on us, but we'll do everything to return to the Champions. We deserve it and it would be important. We hope to give ourselves this gift at the end of the year." The derby kicks off on 17 May at noon.