Bryan Cristante didn't hold back when discussing his Roma teammate Donyell Malen, calling the Dutch forward a "devastating" force inside the penalty area. The praise comes just days after Roma secured the permanent transfer of Malen from Aston Villa—a deal triggered by the club's qualification for the Europa League.

Speaking to Serie A's official channels, Cristante highlighted what makes Malen so dangerous. "He is strong, inside the area he is devastating," the midfielder said. "He has quickness in his control, in moving the ball, in shooting, and he is composed in front of goal. For us, he is an extra weapon."

Malen joined Roma on loan in January and has quickly become a key figure in the squad. With just two matches left in the season, Cristante hopes the forward can maintain his form. "We are keeping him close and we hope he continues like this in these last two matches," he added.

Cristante also reflected on Roma's growth under manager Gian Piero Gasperini. "We were good at following the coach even in difficult moments," he said. "We always stayed on his wavelength and did what he asked. With time, we have learned his patterns more and more. Our strength has been never abandoning the coach's ideas."

On the Champions League race, the Roma vice-captain was determined. "It is our objective and we have had a great season. It would be a shame to throw it away at the end," he said. "It does not depend only on us, but we will give everything to get back into the Champions League. We deserve it."

Looking ahead to Sunday's Derby della Capitale, Cristante emphasized the importance of staying composed. "The derby is always the derby, form does not matter," he said. "Both teams will give something extra. You need a good mix of everything to win it. If you put in too much heart, you lose the clarity to win, and vice versa. You need to stay balanced while giving that something extra."