In the summer of 2012, AC Milan made the bold — some may say foolish — decision to sell two of their key players in a mega-money move to cash-rich side Paris Saint-Germain. Many, naturally questioned the wisdom in letting the team’s best defender and certainly most prolific attacker depart in one felled swoop, but the usual mutterings about finding “adequate replacements” were made and hence, many fans simmered down, if only for a minute.
Not surprisingly, the team began the ensuing 2012-2013 campaign in horrendous fashion, making it the worst start in nearly eight decades and leaving supporters throwing up their hands in frustration and angrily cursing the seemingly inept individuals who described themselves as the Rossoneri’s management team. Still, it’s often said in times of crises, oftentimes emerges unlikely heroes, and indeed it was one player that no one would have expected to be able to step up and deliver: Stephan El Shaarawy.
Prior to then, the former Padova starlet, who had begun his professional career with Genoa in 2008, had only made a smattering of appearances with his parent club before joining the Serie B side on loan during the 2010-2011 season. And while he managed a respectable nine goals in 30 appearances, upon arriving at Milan during the 2011 summer transfer window, the general consensus was that the then 18-year-old was a player of the future, someone who not too much was expected from as he began to find his footing in Serie A.
Four goals in his debut season in a Rossoneri kit were a good output for a player who was playing his first full season in Serie A, so given this, it came as a huge shock — albeit a pleasant one — when il Faraone hit the ground running in his second season. And, despite tailing off after the Christmas holiday, his 19 goals in all appearances made him the team’s top scorer. In other words, a truly impressive achievement for a player not permitted (legally) to purchase a drink in the United States or just old enough to drive in many countries around the world.
Yet, if that season was one that exceeded all expectations for El Shaarawy, the one to follow would be nothing short of a nightmare. A series of injuries would keep him restricted to the sidelines, which in turn prevented him from having a shot at possibly making his nation’s World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament. And with the attacking responsibilities now shifted to international colleague Mario Balotelli, the former Manchester City and Inter striker was unable to provide the same impetus that his younger counterpart did a season prior, with Milan barely scraping into the top 10 and missing out on European competition altogether.
There was, of course, the familiar managerial merry-go-round that is oftentimes seen with not just Italian teams, with Massimiliano Allegri making way for Clarence Seedorf, who in turn was jettisoned in favor of present coach Filippo Inzaghi. So far, despite starting things off against lower division sides Renate and Monza in which the 21-year-old scored his first goal in many months, Milan have been poor during their USA tour. They were thrashed by Greek outfit Olympiakos before being humiliated by Premier League champions Manchester City, with only Sulley Muntari’s goal for solace as the Rossoneri were outscored 8-1. With Liverpool and Mexican side Chivas up next before returning to Europe, Milan will hope to at least get one positive result with the domestic campaign soon to begin in about a month.
As for El Shaarawy himself, the first issue obviously will be whether he will be able to avoid the same series of niggling injuries that reduced him to the shadow of the player who largely carried the squad for the first half of the 2012-2013 season. Should that hopefully happen, the next thing will be to see how Inzaghi will employ him alongside Balotelli as the duo have shown that they do have potential to be a good offensive pairing if used in the proper formation.
Hence as to whether he will be able to re-discover his form or not is, to be honest, a question that cannot be answered with the utmost certainty until the season truly gets underway. But hopefully, for the fans’ sakes, El Shaarawy can at least offer a sneak peak during the team’s on-going pre-season tour before opening day on August 31st, as Milan seek to put last season behind them and re-build towards establishing a more solid future.
Follow Michelle Bonsu on Twitter: @MichelleB289
