Stephan El Shaarawy admits he owes his success to AC Milan's clearout in the summer.

The 20-year-old is Capocannoniere and has scored 16 goals in all competition this season, winning a bet he made with teammate Massimo Ambrosini.

"I haven't decided where I'll take my vacation that Ambrosini will pay for, but it'll certainly be somewhere warm by the sea," he told the Corriere della Sera.

"I have to thank Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who had a fundamental part in my growth and was impeccable in my first season, knowing exactly when it was best to use me.

"What would I have done if Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano had remained? I cannot know, but the fact is with their departure two places opened up at Milan. I haven't heard from Ibra since he left."