Evani tips big things for El Shaarawy

Former AC Milan star Alberigo Evani has backed Stephan El Shaarawy to be a major hit, ahead of the upcoming Milan derby against Inter.

The 49-year-old, who spent 13 years at San Siro, guiding the club to two European Cups and three Serie A titles, believes the young Italy international has ‘undoubted quality’, remarking that Milan did a positive thing in selling their stars over the summer.

“Finally, something happens. There is more confidence now in the quality of [young players], which is not lacking,” the former midfielder told Tuttosport.

“You just need more courage to take risks, and we can work harder because you have to start from the bottom. However, I think it will be a quality derby, as usual.

“I like [what] Milan is doing, without giving too much prominence. Stephan is intelligent, and has undoubted quality but [he] should know that you can always improve and that you cannot lie still in football, in a moment [you can] lose everything.

“The important thing is to be a team. Milan is improving, and the victory against Zenit returned confidence. Allegri has a lot of power, if Inter play with two strikers [they] can be functional. It’s just about learning various game systems and adapting to the opponent.

When asked who could prove to be the decisive player in Sunday evening’s derby, Evani plumped for one key performer for either side.

He added: “[Diego] Milito. [You] often see him in the derby, he knows [how to] score incredible goals. And El Shaarawy is in excellent condition, physical and mental, you might find another performance like that of Zenit St Petersburg.”