During the January transfer window, there was buzz on Stephan El Shaarawy's potential return to Serie A after signing with Shanghai Shenhua. The former Padova and Milan attacker described the situation in China with the Coronavirus, and the implications it had on his career, during an interview with Sky Sport:"Last January I looked at potential solutions with the club once they started postponing the league and the cups, we didn't know when it would start again. I didn't want to stay inactive for a few months with the upcoming Euro. The national team is my priority, now I'm a Shanghai player, I'm focused on doing well for this club and I will think about the transfer market later"
El Shaarawy was asked about his past in Italy:"I left so much behind in Rome, I built much more than a footballing journey, but much more. I felt at home, I miss it like all of Italy. The best teammates I had? Ibrahimovic at Milan, Totti at Roma, Mbappe at Monaco and then there's Kaka', my idol"
