Stephan El Shaarawy has admitted that he may have struggled to get a game at Milan this season had Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano remained.

El Shaarawy has been a revelation this term as he is the League’s top scorer after 10 goals so far.

But he was only given a chance after Ibrahimovic was sold to Paris Saint-Germain and Cassano walked out to join city rivals Inter.

“I have to admit that I have been given the opportunity to play after Cassano left and Ibra was sold,” the new Italian international noted.

“The Coach was able to give me a bit more space in the team because those two players were used in my role.

“It was difficult to play when they were in the squad.”

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