This could be the swan song season in yellow and red for the iconic 92. With the club’s new policy, it currently seems challenging to foresee a contract renewal.

The continuation of Stephan El Shaarawy’s stint at Rome next year remains a puzzle. The Pharaoh, who has bestowed moments of magic upon the Yellow-Red fans throughout his career, has struggled to find consistency in the last two seasons, and his future may lie far from the Capital starting from the next season. Slow starts are becoming a norm: in the 2022/2023 season, his first goal came only on the twelfth day, while last year he had to wait until the ninth to find the back of the net. In addition to this, recurring muscle issues have dramatically hindered his consistency. A significant setback just before the European Championship was one of the most alarming signs. This saw ‘the Pharaoh’ clock only a single minute in the first three outings of the season. Age is also beginning to play a factor.

At the age of 32, El Shaarawy no longer possesses the youthful vigor of his prime, and with his contract expiring in June 2025, his future seems to grow increasingly uncertain. In the latest renewal, he agreed to a salary reduction to 2.5 million euros per season, a gesture of great loyalty to Roma. However, the new policy of the club could prompt the management not to propose a new extension. This year’s statistics are emblematic: just 3 games started and a total of 272 minutes played in the season, before suffering another setback in a match against Monza. “The Pharaoh” is nursing the injury also in Umbria, where he relaxed in a spa with his girlfriend Ludovica Pagani this morning. Notably, El Shaarawy hasn’t scored since February, a goal-drought that marks his longest in his second tenure in the yellow-and-red. For a player who has always thrived on sparks of brilliance, this drought weighs heavy as a boulder. The arrival of Ivan Juric on Roma’s bench has sparked a revolution from a tactical standpoint; the Croatian coach has spoken highly of Stephan, but it remains to be seen if the high-pressing game demanded by the new coach will be an approach the number 92 of the Giallorossi can quickly digest. On its part, Roma, which is already in the process of rejuvenating its roster, could decide to turn the page once and for all and focus on younger players with greater potential. A farewell to the Pharaoh, as he is affectionately known among fans, would be a painful concept for the Giallorossi supporters – at least from an emotional standpoint.