Thursday, 27th December, 2012

AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng believes that the Rossoneri have a "new Zlatan Ibrahimovic" on their hands in the form of Stephan El Shaarawy.

The Italian giants sold Ibrahimovic to Paris Saint-Germain over the summer, leaving a gaping hole in their attack.



El Shaaraway has stepped up to the plate this season though, going some way towards replacing Ibrahimovic’s goals by scoring 14 times in just 17 Serie A matches.

The 20-year-old has performed so superbly for the Rossoneri that he has even attracted attention from Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho.

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And Boateng is not surprised, believing that Milan have a real talent on their hands and, just maybe, another Ibrahimovic.

"We almost have a new Ibrahimovic", he told German daily Die Welt.

"If El Shaarawy continues as he is now, he is [a new Ibrahimovic] without doubt."

Boateng also reflected on how there is much more to come from the current Milan team, who look well out of the Serie A title reckoning and will need to pull out all the stops just to qualify for the Champions League next season.

"We have improved a lot", said Boateng.

"But we can achieve even more."

Milan lost 4-2 away at Roma before the winter break and will resume the second half of the Serie A season sitting seventh.

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