#360transfers: Stephan El Shaarawy heads for Monaco

David Cooper - Writer 04:59 12/07/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Pastures new: Shaarawy.

    Stephan El Shaarawy is heading for Ligue 1 side Monaco, AC Milan have confirmed.

    The 22-year-old forward broke into the Rossoneri’s ranks in 2012-13 but a plummet in form after the mid-season arrival of Mario Balotelli was followed by a long-term foot injury.

    The Italy international struggled under former boss Filippo Inzaghi in another fitness-hit campaign and he was deemed surplus to requirements following the arrivals of Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano.

    El Shaarawy will be having a medical with the French club today and will initially join Leonardo Jardim’s men on a €2 million (Dh8m) loan deal.

    But should El Shaarawy feature 15 times for Monaco next season, he will trigger a clause that will see Monaco fork out an extra €16m (Dh66m) to make the move permanent.

    The attacker will be replacing the outgoing Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, who joined Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

    Monaco finished third last season in Jardim’s first season in charge and reached the last eight of the Champions League, despite having lost star players such as James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao.

    This summer they have already sold Ferreira-Carrasco and Geoffrey Kondogbia to Atletico Madrid and Inter respectively, while Fal- cao was once again sent out on a money-spinning loan to the Premier League.

    – EPL: Manchester United sign Torino’s Darmian
    – VIDEO: Man Utd announce deal for Schweinsteiger
    – Liverpool: Anfield club’s sensible summer signings

    Meanwhile, Milan midfielder Nigel de Jong has called on “true champion” Zlatan Ibrahimovic to ditch Paris Saint-Germain and return to the Rossoneri this summer.

    Milan president Silvio Bersluconi started the club’s charm offensive towards Ibrahimovic in June and the rumours regarding their pursuit of the Sweden international have refused to die down.

    New coach Sinisa Mihajlovic admitted he was open to the idea of Ibrahimovic being signed and Dutch midfielder De Jong would love to reunite with Ibrahimovic, whom he also played alongside at Ajax a little over a decade ago.

    “There is no question of whether I’d want Ibrahimovic to sign for Milan for me,” he said when asked about the potential signing of the 33-year-old. “I hope he comes back because he is a true champion.”

    The 33-year-old striker has been prolific in his three years since leaving San Siro for Parc des Princes, scoring 75 goals in 91 Ligue 1 appearances.

    With Milan revamping their attacking options, Giampaolo Pazzini has confirmed his move to Verona after joining the club on a free transfer.

    The 31-year-old was released by the San Siro side at the end of June and also reportedly had offers from Bologna and abroad before opting to move to the Stadio Bentegodi.

    Pazzini wrote on his official Facebook page: “Today begins a new professional challenge, I’m really happy and excited. I can’t wait to start the season with an ambitious team that really believed in me.” 

    Recommended