The Italy international Stephan El Shaarawy is close to completing a transfer from Milan to Monaco.
The 22-year-old forward, who is due to have a medical with the French club on Monday, told Italy’s Sky Sports 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 reported that Monaco will pay Milan a €16m (£11m) transfer fee and that El Shaarawy, who has an Egyptian father, will sign a five-year deal worth €3m a season.
In 2012-13, El Shaarawy was Serie A’s top scorer at the season’s midpoint with 14 goals but then struggled in the second half of the campaign after Mario Balotelli’s arrival. He was slowed by injuries in the past two seasons.