Report: Monaco reluctant to activate El Shaarawy's buy-out clause
AS Monaco has decided not to play Stephan El Shaarawy any further as the Ligue 1 club looks to ship the player back to parent club AC Milan, reports Alessandra Gozzini of La Gazzetta dello Sport.
El Shaarawy has made 24 appearances for Monaco this season - one match short of activating his obligatory buy-out clause. Having already paid €3 million up front for the initial loan, the club does not intend to put up the required €13 million to keep El Shaarawy on a permanent basis.
Monaco would rather sit the 23-year-old on the bench than grant him another minute of action, according to Gozzini. Milan, which expected the deal to be consummated, has no desire to retain El Shaarawy, and must now act quickly in the January transfer window to offload him.
The Rossoneri's asking price is set at €14 million, but the Italy international has already attracted interest from Roma and former club Genoa. He could even find himself a new home in the Premier League, Gozzini adds.
El Shaarawy has scored only three goals for Monaco - two in the Europa League and one in the preliminary stage of the Champions League.