Shanghai Shenhua striker Stephan El Shaarawy.

The Italy international has left Roma for China this week.

“Given that I haven't issued a statement for a month now, taking the right time to think, so many things were written and said, many of which didn't correspond to reality," the 26-year-old wrote on Instagram.

“I was hoping for a different ending, but you don't always get what you want! There are many, too many, factors to take into account in situations like these and sometimes they don't depend only on you...!

“It was a difficult and heavy decision to take, but in life we always reach a point when certain choices must be made, when you tip everything on the scales, for your career and, above all, your life.

“I'm aware that I'm joining a 'new' world with new perspectives, while continuing to do what I've always lived for.

“What's for certain is that no-one will ever take away the emotions I felt while playing with this shirt, from that backheel goal on my debut until the final round of applause at the Olimpico!"