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Stephan El Shaarawy

Forward#92· Italian

Il Faraone. The Pharaoh. Stephan El Shaarawy earned his nickname through his Egyptian heritage — his father is Egyptian, his mother Swiss-Italian — and it has stuck because it suits him perfectly: there is something regal and timeless about the way he plays.

Born in Savona in 1992, El Shaarawy announced himself to Italian football with a stunning first half of the 2012-13 season at AC Milan, finishing as Serie A's top scorer at Christmas and winning the Best Young Revelation award. Injuries frustrated his peak years at Milan, and his career took him to Monaco, then Roma (the first time), then briefly to China. But he came back to Rome, and Rome came back to him.

He plays on the left flank, cutting inside onto his stronger right foot — a movement so sharp and familiar to Olimpico regulars that they begin to rise from their seats when they see him receive the ball in that position. He is not the quickest player in the squad, but his low centre of gravity, his dribbling technique, and his understanding of space make him genuinely difficult to stop. At 32, he is the elder statesman of Roma's forward line, a third captain, and one of the club's most beloved players of the modern era.

Latest on Stephan El Shaarawy

Pruzzo dismisses Summerville as second-tier player amid Roma transfer push
Transfer NewsOpinion AI
2h ago

Pruzzo dismisses Summerville as second-tier player amid Roma transfer push

Roma radio stations have weighed in on the club's pursuit of winger Luis Summerville from West Ham, with prominent voices divided on the move's merit. Summerville remains a target for Roma, with the latest offer reportedly reaching 49 million euros including bonuses, though West Ham has yet to give final approval. Legendary Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo was sceptical of the investment. Speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), Pruzzo stated: "I'm not doing cartwheels for Summerville—he is a second-tier player. 50 million is a lot of money, and I wouldn't want him to carry that weight of the fee. With that money we could aspire to something better." Fellow analyst Nando Orsi, also on Radio Radio Mattino, drew a comparison to current Roma winger Stephan El Shaarawy, suggesting Summerville is only marginally stronger and questioned whether 50 million euros justified the cost for a second-division calibre player arriving from the Premier League. Simone Valdarchi of Radio Manà Manà (90.9) took a different line, suggesting Roma had done everything possible to bring Summerville to Trigoria and that the deal now hinged solely on West Ham's acceptance of the final bid.

Gasperini Pushes for Summerville Decision in Coming Days
Transfer NewsClub News AI
1d ago

Gasperini Pushes for Summerville Decision in Coming Days

AS Roma are closing in on Crysencio Summerville, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expecting a resolution in the coming days. The club has raised their bid to €50 million to persuade West Ham to sell the Dutch international and fend off competition from Aston Villa. Gasperini will have final say once Roma and Summerville's agents reach an agreement on personal terms. Despite publicly casting doubt on the transfer during Saturday's press conference—a tactical move to maintain negotiating leverage—Gasperini is eager to bring the winger to Rome. The breakthrough hinges on agreeing contract details with Summerville's representatives, the final hurdle before the deal can be completed. Roma's willingness to climb to the €50 million mark signals their determination to secure one of their priority targets this window. The next 24 to 48 hours are viewed as critical to the outcome. Summerville, who would join a squad already including attackers such as Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, and Stephan El Shaarawy, represents a significant investment in Gasperini's vision for the team.

Roma restarts pre-season without new signings
Squad NewsTransfer News AI
8d ago

Roma restarts pre-season without new signings

Roma's squad reported to Trigoria by 12 noon on Monday to begin their first week of training under Gian Piero Gasperini, who enters his second season in charge following the club's return to the Champions League. The first session, preceded by routine medical checks, was scheduled for the afternoon after lunch. The squad welcomed back no new faces, with departures including El Shaarawy, Ferguson, Zaragoza and Tsimikas, and the club opted not to publish the squad list publicly. The decision to withhold squad details reflects uncertainty over Paulo Dybala's contract situation. Roma's hierarchy worked to complete all formalities of Dybala's contract renewal by Monday morning, with the financial terms already agreed for several days. Çelik will be the first player to return following his involvement in international competition, though his own renewal announcement has not yet been confirmed. The full or near-full squad is expected only when the team convenes for a training camp in Wales. Gasperini is awaiting reinforcements from the club's sporting director D'Amico, who has drawn up a target list prioritising Moreira, while Garnacho and Tresoldi remain under consideration for the attack and centre-back positions respectively.

Fresh Start
Transfer NewsSquad News AI
8d ago

Fresh Start

Gian Piero Gasperini begins Roma's summer preparation at Trigoria, exactly fifty days after his appointment was celebrated at Verona. The coach will oversee a squad that has undergone subtle but significant changes since the end of the previous season. Stephan El Shaarawy has departed, while several players remain away on World Cup duty. Critically, Zeki Çelik and Lorenzo Pellegrini have yet to sign contract renewals, though both are expected to remain at the club—Çelik is still on holiday following Turkey's World Cup campaign, while Pellegrini must rebuild his fitness. Paulo Dybala is confirmed in the squad barring unforeseen developments. The transfer market remains frozen for now, but sporting director D'Amico will shift focus to incoming moves once renewals are secured. Gasperini's priority list is established. Mason Greenwood, the primary target, has slipped away, but the new sporting director is pursuing alternative options considered equally significant. Alejandro Garnacho and a player identified as Moreira are under active consideration. For Garnacho, Roma have requested a loan with an option to buy from Chelsea, though London has not yet opened discussions. Strasbourg are demanding 40 million for the Belgian, a considerably more demanding asking price that complicates any potential deal.

Roma assemble for pre-season as Gasperini begins Champions League rebuild
Squad NewsClub News AI
8d ago

Roma assemble for pre-season as Gasperini begins Champions League rebuild

Roma began their pre-season on Tuesday, exactly fifty days after their victory in Verona, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini arriving at Trigoria. Only fourteen outfield players reported initially, with several absentees due to extended World Cup breaks or departures. Stephan El Shaarawy, Kostas Tsimikas, Evan Ferguson, Bryan Zaragoza, Zeki Çelik, Evan N'Dicka, Donyell Malen, Salah-Eddine, and Neil El Aynaoui were unavailable, while Manu Koné remained absent. Players were required to arrive at the training ground by noon for medical checks before their first session in the afternoon. Paulo Dybala is set to sign a one-year contract extension to begin his fifth season at Roma, with the announcement expected on Tuesday. Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract situation remains unresolved, with further discussions scheduled in the coming days. Wesley has recovered fully from an adductor muscle injury sustained before the World Cup. Daniele De Rossi's successor Gasperini arrived Monday morning and will oversee an intensive two-week training block at Trigoria before the squad relocates to Wales for the second phase of pre-season, departing 30 July and returning 18 August following a fixture against Brighton. Several players with uncertain futures, including Artem Dovbyk and Robinio Vaz, will use the coming weeks to impress Gasperini. Donyell Malen is expected to rejoin the squad around 22 July. Sporting director Tony D'Amico, representing the Friedkin Group ownership, attended to welcome the squad.

Dybala's Champions League return: from Budapest heartbreak to assist master
Squad NewsEurope AI
8d ago

Dybala's Champions League return: from Budapest heartbreak to assist master

Paulo Dybala has recommitted to AS Roma following his automatic contract renewal, capping a resurgence that helped secure the club's return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years. The Argentine playmaker delivered decisively in the final stretch of the 2025–26 season, recording assists for Malen and El Shaarawy in matches against Verona—the goals that sealed Europa League qualification and promotion to the group stage. Over 27 appearances in that run, Dybala posted 3 goals and 8 assists. Since joining Roma in 2022, Dybala has compiled 140 matches, 45 goals and 30 assists across all positions—attacker, second striker, attacking midfielder and creative fulcrum. His debut campaign (2022–23) proved prolific with 18 goals and 8 assists before injury despite a standout display against Inter and a vital Europa League goal against Feyenoord. The following year brought 16 goals in 39 matches with 10 assists. A proposed summer transfer to Al-Qadsiah fell through when Dybala chose to remain in the Eternal City, but form and fitness suffered under successive managers, leaving him sidelined until early 2026. After knee surgery in March forced another layoff, his timely return proved crucial. The lingering scar from the 31 May 2023 final—a missed opportunity to change Roma's history—remains, but the coming seasons offer fresh chances to heal that wound.

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