El Shaarawy: 'I'll always thank Roma'

By Football Italia staff

Stephan El Shaarawy has flown out to China for his Shanghai Shenhua transfer. “I will always thank the Roma fans for these years together.”

The forward arrived at Fiumicino Airport this evening and set out for his medical and three-year contract signature, worth a total €40m salary.

Roma are set to pocket €18m, including easy-to-achieve performance-related bonuses.

“I will always thank the Roma fans for these years we had together,” El Shaarawy told Il Tempo reporters.

“I also thank all those who I worked with at Roma.”

The Italy international had originally said he was too young to go to China, but the 26-year-old changed his mind.

He was asked if he had spoken to Azzurri boss Roberto Mancini about how this would affect his Nazionale chances.

“No, I haven’t heard from him.”

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