Hakan Çalhanoğlu has long been a divisive figure in Milan. After crossing the club-divide between city rivals Milan and Inter in 2021, there has been certain doubts cast over the now-Nerazzurri midfielder. But Çalhanoğlu has continued to dismiss those question marks – thriving in a new role under Simone Inzaghi.
By Luke Bissett
“He [Çalhanoğlu] is currently the second-best defensive midfielder in the world behind Rodri,” claimed former Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta last month. High praise indeed for the Turkish international. The comments may have sparked somewhat of a debate throughout Italy, yet few can argue just how big of an impact Çalhanoğlu has had on this swashbuckling Inter side.
The 29-year-old was predominantly used as an attacking midfielder upon joining the Nerazzurri on a free transfer in the summer of 2021, and instantly became a key player for Inzaghi. The midfielder scored 8 goals and provided 12 assists across 46 appearances in his first season at the club – forming an impressive midfield trident with Marcelo Brozović and Nicolo Barella.
Çalhanoğlu was typically deployed as the most advanced of the trio and afforded much greater attacking freedom compared to his midfield counterparts. This enabled the Turk to act as the link between midfield and Inter’s attack, picking up pockets in the left half-spaces of the pitch. However, an injury to Brozović in September 2022 forced Inzaghi to tweak the framework of the side. The Inter boss opted to drop Çalhanoğlu deeper into the No. 6 role as cover for the Croatian midfielder. And it’s a decision that worked to almighty effect.
29-year-old Çalhanoğlu has been given a new lease of life at the base of the Inter midfield – operating as a deep lying playmaker and being considerably more involved within the side’s build up. The midfielder instantly excelled in his new role and played a key role as the Nerazzurri advanced to the final of last season’s Champions League. Brozović was even unable to dislodge him from the side after returning from injury. This ultimately gave the Inter hierarchy the green light to sell the Croatian midfielder to Saudi side Al-Nassr last summer with full confidence in Çalhanoğlu as the first choice ‘regista’.
Çalhanoğlu dropping into the deeper role has also given Inter much greater attacking impetus, allowing Inzaghi to use Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the more advanced midfield position within his 3-5-2 system. The Nerazzurri have scored 50 goals in Serie A this season, the most of any side in the division. Çalhanoğlu plays an integral role in the side’s build up, always looking to collect the ball from the centre-backs before finding a forward pass. In fact, only Monza’s Matteo Pessina (1199) has completed more passes than Çalhanoğlu in Serie A this term (1155).
The Turkish midfielder floats ahead of the back-line – offering a constant option for the central defenders to progress the ball and bypass the opposition’s press. Çalhanoğlu then looks to kick-start attacks via vertical passes between the lines. The 29-year-old is extremely effective with the ball and is continuously on the move to receive the ball. Impressively, Çalhanoğlu has had the third-most touches of any player in the Italian top-flight this season (1567).
He is also very adept at playing accurate passes over a range of distances, be it recycling the ball through short passes or picking out a teammate in space via accurate long balls. The 29-year-old’s 21 successful switches is the most of any player in Serie A this campaign. One of the biggest factors that has enabled him to seamlessly slot into the defensive midfield role is his decision-making skills – knowing what type of pass to play to maintain possession. Indeed, he has played more possessional passes than any other player in Serie A across 2023-24 (1357).
He is also one of the most renowned set piece takers in European football and poses an enormous threat from dead ball situations. He has scored seven penalties in the league this season – the outright most of any player across the big five leagues. Çalhanoğlu’s technical ability gives him the ability to fashion chances out of nothing, and he has played 127 passes into the box, which is the third most among midfielders in Serie A this season. He has also created 19 chances from set pieces in Serie A this campaign, the third-most in the league.
Çalhanoğlu possesses an emphatic strike and certainly does not shy away from attempting the spectacular. The midfielder has arguably even competed in his own ‘goal of the season’ competition in years gone past with his trademark ferocious long-distance strikes. He has taken more shots from outside the box than any other Serie A player this term (30). Despite his more withdrawn role, Çalhanoğlu has continued to be influential in the final third and been directly involved in 12 Serie A goals in 2023-24, the most of any midfielder in the division. He also ranks fifth for Expected Assists (3.84) and sixth for Expected Goals (7.12) in the Italian top-tier, showcasing just how important he is to Inter’s attack.
Inter have enjoyed a terrific season thus far and sit top of the Serie A table with 54 points from their opening 21 games. It is in fact the Nerazzurri’s second-best ever points tally at this stage of a campaign, after only 2006-07 (57 points at this stage). They are also currently just a point ahead of rivals Juventus in the standings while boasting a game in hand and have the chance to extend their lead even further, as they host the Old Lady in the Derby d’Italia this weekend.
Juventus will be all too aware of the almighty task that lies ahead in the derby on Sunday evening with Inter unbeaten in their last 15 matches in Serie A. And it will be certainly clear if they are to have any chance of stopping the Nerazzurri, they will most likely have to stop Çalhanoğlu first.
(Images from IMAGO)
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