AC Milan’s El Shaarawy transferring to Monaco

AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy is close to transferring to Moncao. (Carlo Baroncini/AP)

ROME — Italy international Stephan El Shaarawy is close to completing a transfer from AC Milan to Monaco.

The 22-year-old forward is undergoing a medical with the French league club Monday.

He tells Italy’s Sky Sport that "I had to make a decision in 24 hours. But I think I made the right choice for my career."

The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Monaco will pay Milan a 16 million euro ($18 million) transfer fee and that El Shaarawy will sign a five-year deal worth 3 million euros ($3.3 million) per season.

In 2012-13, El Shaarawy was Serie A’s top scorer at the season’s midpoint with 14 goals but then struggled the second half of the campaign after Mario Balotelli’s arrival. He was slowed by injuries the past two seasons.

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