Stephan El Shaarawy to Monaco: One of the summer's best transfers?

Andrew Gibney 20:55 12/08/2015
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  • Stephan El Shaarawy's move to Monaco has captured the imagination of the local fans.

    After the initial media scramble that followed AS Monaco’s leap from Ligue 2 champions in 2013 to nouveau European superpower, the critics was just as ferocious when superstar signings James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao made their escape from the principality at the first available opportunity.

    From the ashes of the initial project, a new-dawn is emerging on the French Riviera, spearheaded with the move for Stephan El Shaarawy from AC Milan. The half-Egyptian, half-Italian forward has a chance to rebuild his career at the forward thinking club.

    Flirting with Financial Fair Play after their first wave of spending, Monaco were never going to be maintain their lavish direction, it was merely to kick start their ascent and push them back into the top level of the league – and it worked.

    Falcao, James and Joao Moutinho were the names, the sparkly new toys that would attract attention to the south of France. All over the squad, the emerging talent was there to see. Layvin Kurzawa, Fabinho, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Anthony Martial – not all products of their own youth development, but they were there to shape Monaco’s future.

    “We have a historic academy, this is where Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Petit, David Trezeguet and Lilian Thuram came from,” Monaco CEO Vadim Vasilyev told The Guardian in 2014. “Now we have eight academy players in our professional squad and that is really good. We really have a lot of talent and we now have a coach [Leonardo Jardim] who is really good at developing young talent. Just look at the things he has done in Sporting Lisbon with a team with no real stars and a lot of young boys.”

    This summer, Monaco’s second phase has taken shape. After two excellent seasons, Kondogbia and Ferreira Carrasco have moved to Inter and Atletico Madrid respectively – making Les Monegasques around €30 million (Dh123m) net.

    A NEW DAWN ON THE RIVIERA

    Before taking on Valencia in the Champions League play-off round, Vasilyev has orchestrated the arrival of 12 new signings, with only five significant departures from last season’s squad.

    There are similarities to the current projects at FC Porto and Atletico Madrid, Monaco concentrating on signing the best and brightest talent from Portugal and France – hoping that in two or three years they will be able to make similar profit once again.

    Although his initial move is on loan, there is hope that El Shaarawy could be the player with the highest ceiling. Monaco have tried to protect their investment, agreeing a five-year-deal with the Italian forward, but a €16 million (Dh66m) transfer fee will only be triggered once he plays 15 games for Les Rouges et Blanc.

    Three seasons ago, il Faraone scored 19 goals in just 46 games as his early season heroics – hindered by Mario Balotelli’s January arrival – helped Milan finish third in Serie A. Injury has hampered him since, a troublesome foot injury meaning he has only played 25 games in all competitions since.

    “I think coming here was the best choice for me and my career,” El Shaarawy said at his introductory Press conference. “There’s a nice blend of youth and experience, I’m confident, and I believed we’ll do well in the future.”

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    QUICK OFF THE MARK

    Without time to put too much thought into the gravity of his decision, he has hit the ground running. Scoring in a preseason friendly against PSV Eindhoven settled the nerves, before he made his competitive debut in the away leg of the Champions League qualifier against Young Boys in Switzerland.

    6-1 up on aggregate during the second leg at the Stade Louis II, El Shaarawy made his home debut with 15 minutes to go – it took him less than 60 seconds to make his mark. It was a move that Milan fans had witnessed on many occasions. Cutting in from the left, the Italian would shape the ball onto his right-foot before firing past the goalkeeper from outside the area.

    His whirlwind introduction to life in Ligue 1 was cranked up a further notch on Saturday night as he travelled along the coast to face local rivals OGC Nice at the Allianz Riviera. Although he didn’t start, Jardim was unhappy with his team’s performance and brought him on just before half-time.

    What Monaco fans got a glimpse of was the El Shaarawy who had dazzled and delighted at San Siro. He has always favoured the left-side, but popped up all over the front line, eager to get time on the ball.

    Nice were reduced to 10-men and the space began to open up for the former Milan forward. A spectacular overhead kick nearly provided the perfect introduction to Ligue 1, but it was his overall play that impressed – showing just how valuable he could be to Jardim’s side this season.

    WELL-COIFFED AND WELL-OILED

    Despite being known for his skill and inch-perfect hairstyle, his work rate down the left-flank will help protect the Monaco defence and give the explosive Kurzawa the freedom to attack down the wing at will.

    An underrated passer, he was pinging balls left and right, spreading the play, opening up the Nice defence. Teams in Ligue 1 can be known to sit in and defend deep, El Shaarawy’s ability to quickly switch play to either side and move stubborn defences, could become a key feature of Jardim’s attack.

    Last season, Ferreira Carrasco was more accustomed to staying wide and moving off the wing with the ball at his feet, now El Shaarawy has the ability to make off-the-ball runs from out to in, his movement helping to create space for the likes of Anthony Martial, Bernardo Silva and fellow new signing Ivan Cavaleiro.

    “El Shaarawy has experience of several seasons at the highest level, but simultaneously represents the future,” beamed Vasilyev. “His talent allowed him to explode in front of the eyes of world football and we believe that AS Monaco will allow him to fully accomplish his potential.”

    No one is under any illusions regarding Monaco’s new project. Play well over two seasons and they will sell to the highest bidder. If El Shaarawy can find his 2012-13 form for his new club and show added maturity from his time on the sidelines, paying Milan €16 million next summer could become a very shrewd business decision.

    Taking on Valencia over two legs for a place in the Champions League is going to be a difficult early test for Monaco and the former Padova loanee, but the initial signs are positive that the newest star in Monte Carlo could just be the one that makes a huge difference this season.

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