AS Roma striker Stephan El Shaarawy says he's found his return to Serie A difficult.

El Shaarawy arrived from Milan, via Monaco, in the January transfer window and made an immediate impact.

He told a fans Q&A: “It was a surprise when Roma called, but a very positive one. Since the window opened Roma were my first choice and I was very happy speaking to (director Walter) Sabatini, while I immediately felt the faith the Coach had in me.

“I came here to provide a turning point to my career. It's a positive moment, but I have to continue like this, as there's a long road ahead.

“In physical terms Ligue 1 is much more intense, whereas Serie A is more tactical and I have to say it is much more difficult to play in Serie A, as the spaces are reduced and you need to create space for yourself to hurt the opposition.

“I settled in very quickly to the locker room, as it was a happy environment. I already knew Alessandro Florenzi and Daniele De Rossi from the Italy squad, but they are all lovely guys."