El Shaarawy confirms Roma exit, praises run

Stephan El Shaarawy said on May 21 that he will leave AS Roma at the end of the season, using the final days of the campaign to praise the club’s push for a Champions League place. In comments carried by SportMediaset, the 33-year-old winger said qualification would make the year “memorable” for the squad and supporters. The remarks came before Roma’s last Serie A game of the season, away to Hellas Verona on May 24. SportMediaset said El Shaarawy will say goodbye to Rome at the end of the campaign. ### What exactly did El Shaarawy confirm? SportMediaset reported on May 21 that El Shaarawy will leave Roma at season’s end, framing the interview around his farewell to the capital. The outlet quoted him saying that if Roma reach the Champions League, it would be “a memorable season” for the players and fans. (sportmediaset.mediaset.it) Football Italia and other outlets reported in the previous week that El Shaarawy had already announced his departure more directly, saying he would leave when his contract expires on June 30. Football Italia said the winger first joined Roma in January 2016, left in 2019 for Shanghai Shenhua, and returned in January 2021. (sportmediaset.mediaset.it) ### How close is Roma to the Champions League? Roma enter the last round of Serie A with Champions League qualification still in play. Lega Serie A’s fixture list shows Verona-Roma is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, in the final slate of league matches. Worldfootball.net’s standings page listed Roma third on 70 points after 37 matches, level with AC Milan and ahead of Como and Juventus on 68. (football-italia.net) El Shaarawy, speaking after Roma’s derby win over Lazio, said the Verona game would be “the most important of the season” and that qualification was now in Roma’s hands. (en.legaseriea.it) ### What has El Shaarawy meant to Roma over time? El Shaarawy’s departure closes a long association with Roma that spanned two spells and more than 300 appearances. Football Italia reported that he leaves with 65 goals and a Europa Conference League title during his time with the club. Yahoo Sports, citing his farewell message, said Roma will not renew his contract and described the exit as the end of a 10-year relationship with the club. (worldfootball.net) OneFootball, citing L’Equipe, reported that El Shaarawy made 347 appearances, scoring 65 goals and providing 50 assists across his Roma career. (football-italia.net) ### Why did his comments focus on the team rather than his exit? El Shaarawy used the interview to keep attention on Roma’s finish rather than on his own plans. In the SportMediaset clip, the emphasis was on the team’s season and on what Champions League qualification would mean to supporters. (sports.yahoo.com) Laroma24, reporting his comments after the Lazio match, quoted El Shaarawy saying Roma had reached the point of playing for a Champions League place that had been missing for eight years. He said the positive element was that the outcome depended on Roma themselves if they won the final match. (sportmediaset.mediaset.it) ### What comes next for Roma and for El Shaarawy? Roma’s next step is fixed: the club travel to Verona for their final Serie A match on May 24. Lega Serie A lists the game among the Sunday evening kickoffs that will settle the remaining Champions League places. El Shaarawy’s contract expiry is reported for June 30, which would make him a free agent after the season. (app.laroma24.it) His immediate public message, however, has stayed on Roma’s closing objective — finishing the campaign with a Champions League berth. (sports.yahoo.com) (en.legaseriea.it)