The 20-year-old has lost form of late and the duo were even criticised by national coach Cesare Prandelli for not linking up properly in Italy's 1-1 draw with Holland last week.
Many Italian football observers also hold the view that the two players are too similar in their playing styles and needlessly get in each other's way. The Rossonerri were also less than convincing in their draw at Cagliari over the weekend despite fielding an attacking trio of Balotelli, El Shaarawy and Mamadou Niang.
Moreover, El Shaarawy, Milan's leading goalscorer, has suffered something of a barren patch as he has scored just once in the past seven Serie A games.
The former Genoa forward called for patience in evaluating his partnership with Balotelli as he told the Milan channel: "The criticism we are getting seems a bit too much. We've only played two games together and we need time to settle."
"I know that we need to improve in some areas of our game, but it is not true that we can't work together.
He also confessed to having fitness problems although no major injuries have plagued him this year.
"I have had problems with my knees for two or three seasons now," he added.
"I can handle the problem, but every now and then it causes me annoyance."
The two star strikers have yet to score goals within the same game for both club and country and could get a chance to do so in their next game against Parma on Friday.
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