Felipe Caicedo mocks Roma with 'Malen Malen' jibe after Inter defeat
Former Lazio striker Felipe Caicedo has taken a swipe at rivals AS Roma following their heavy 5-2 defeat to Inter Milan, posting a cryptic social media message that has been interpreted as a jibe at the Giallorossi. The 34-year-old striker, who played for Lazio from 2017 to 2021, posted the phrase "Molto Malen Malen" on his X (formerly Twitter) account, alongside an emoji of five pears, following Roma's heavy loss at the San Siro. The phrase is a pun on the name of Borussia Dortmund and Netherlands winger Donyell Malen, but in Italian, "molto male" translates to "very bad".
The post is widely seen as a dig at Roma's heavy defeat, which has significantly dented their hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League. The 5-2 scoreline at the San Siro was a significant blow to Roma's top-four ambitions. The defeat leaves Daniele De Rossi's side in a precarious position in the race for the top four, having been soundly beaten by the league leaders. The result saw Inter Milan extend their lead at the top of Serie A, while Roma's position in the European places is now under threat.
Felipe Caicedo is no stranger to the fierce rivalry between Lazio and Roma, having spent four years with the Biancocelesti. The Ecuadorian striker, who currently plays for Abha Club in Saudi Arabia, made 105 appearances for Lazio, scoring 25 goals. His time at the club, particularly under manager Simone Inzaghi, saw him become a cult hero for his knack for scoring crucial late goals, earning him the nickname "Caicogoal" from the Lazio faithful. His departure in 2021 for Genoa, and subsequent moves to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have not diminished his connection to the Biancocelesti or his penchant for commenting on the Roman football scene.
The social media post has predictably stirred the long-standing rivalry. The phrase "Molto Malen Malen" is a play on words, referencing the Dutch forward but using the Italian words for "very, very bad"—a clear jibe at Roma's defensive performance. The accompanying five pear emojis are a direct reference to the five goals conceded. The post has garnered significant attention, with many Lazio fans celebrating the dig at their city rivals, while Roma supporters have dismissed it as a provocation from a former player no longer relevant to the current footballing landscape.
This incident highlights the intense and often bitter rivalry between the two clubs, where actions off the pitch often carry as much weight as those on it. While player movement between the two clubs is virtually unheard of, the war of words and social media jabs remain a constant feature of the Rome derby dynamic. Caicedo's post is the latest example of the rivalry spilling over into the digital sphere, keeping the intense city rivalry alive even from afar. The incident also underscores the modern trend of players and ex-players using social media to engage with fans and rivals, adding a new, direct, and often unfiltered dimension to football's traditional rivalries.
