In a candid interview with Corriere dello Sport, Inter Milan’s Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu opened up about his deep connection with the club, his future aspirations, and the team’s current form. The 30-year-old playmaker, who has become an integral part of the Nerazzurri squad, shared insights into his personal and professional life in Milan.
Calhanoglu began by expressing his profound attachment to Inter, stating, “I can say that it was, first of all, a significant change in my life. Because moving here from Milan is not easy. But I always liked Inter, even in the past. From the first day in the Nerazzurri, an extraordinary journey began, which has marked my career and made me the player I am.”
When asked about the possibility of ending his career with Inter, Calhanoglu was optimistic but realistic: “I hope so, it’s my hope. Also because I’m not that young anymore. And in football, you can never know what will happen. But I will certainly stay as long as possible.”
The midfielder also revealed how he handled interest from Bayern Munich last summer: “There were the Euros, and until they were over, my agent didn’t tell me anything. Then he called me saying there were these options. I stopped him immediately and told him without hesitation: ‘Talk to Inter, not to me. I’ll only do what they want.’ I can only thank this club and the people who are part of it. They have always helped and supported me.”
Calhanoglu praised manager Simone Inzaghi’s influence on his career: “Certainly yes. He saw my quality and my intelligence on the field. He had the intuition to transform me from a midfielder to a playmaker. And it was the turning point in my career.”
Discussing his evolution as a player, Calhanoglu remarked, “Honestly, I don’t like to talk about myself. When I go on the field, I just try to play fast, develop the maneuver forward, and I always think about how to get out of various situations. I work to lend a hand in the construction phase, creating opportunities to score. But I must admit that what I like most is defending, facing an opponent, challenging him.”
On Inter’s success, Calhanoglu emphasized the importance of team spirit: “The locker room, the group. As soon as I arrived, I discovered that there were different people here. I immediately felt the warmth. The feeling is of being in a family. The comfort is absolute. And everyone feels important.”
Looking ahead to the Champions League, Calhanoglu expressed confidence in the team’s abilities: “We are aware that we can compete with everyone. There are two or three other strong teams that are certainly dangerous. But we have embarked on an important path, which has made us grow and, at the same time, has eliminated the ups and downs.”
Calhanoglu concluded by sharing his post-retirement plans: “There are two paths: coach or sporting director. At the moment, however, more the second than the first. Like Ausilio.”
