This series takes a look at the latest signings and statistically analyzes those individuals’ contributions and how they compare to the current squad.

Before this article was even completed, Joaquín Correa had already made an impact on Inter Milan’s squad: being subbed on for Laturo in the 75th minute and bagging a brace to secure Inter the win. 

Joaquín Correa played as a “trequartista” for Lazio, or a play-making attacking midfielder, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu had a similar role for AC Milan, albeit a bit more of a traditional midfielder with more defensive contributions.

In this article, we will compare their last season with their respective clubs to see how they might pan out for Inter Milan.

Being playmaking midfielders, we will analyze their goal contributions, passing, and touch on their tackles and interceptions.  These stats are derived from FBref.com and Wyscout.com, and are given in “per game” or percentage format.

Attacking Stats:

In simple goal contributions, Correa provided 11 goals and 5 assists for Lazio to Calhanoglu’s 6 goals and 10 assists for AC Milan.

This comes to a non-penalty goal or assist every 51 and 39 minutes (or 0.51 and 0.39 per game), respectively.  Their ‘non-penalty expected goals and assists’ is 0.50 to 0.45; what this tells us is Correa and Calhanoglu successfully completed their respective “xG” and “xA”, while Calhanoglu actually over-performed.

Correra provides more shots on target per game than Calhanoglu, 1.08 to 0.83, and Correa is a bit more accurate with his shots in general, 44.4% on target to 29.4%.

Correa is also the slightly better passer at 81.6% successful to 77.1% while Calhanoglu provides a substantial amount more ‘key passes’ per game (those directly leading to a shot): his 3.42 to Correra’s 1.31.

Both have excellent ‘shot-creating actions’ as well (the two offensive actions leading to a shot): Correra’s 3.95 per game to Calhanoglu’s incredible 5.88.

They are both decent on the ball, but Calhanoglu is slightly better in both successfully receiving (his 82.1% to Correra’s 70.6%) and dribbling (61.3% to 51.1%).

Defensive Stats:

Defensively, there isn’t much to either of them. We can expect 1.52 tackles, interceptions, or clearances from Correa each game while Calhanoglu might give us 2.31 of the same.

Interestingly, Correa is actually a much better tackler (21.2%) to Calhanoglu’s abysmal 6.7% success rate.

Granted, this isn’t an expected feature of a “trequartista”, but Inter hasn’t played that role as of late and midfielders were expected to contribute defensively, up to this point at least.

So what does the Joaquin Correa acquisition mean for Inter Milan?

Well, we know he and Calhanoglu are prolific, putting away every chance expected of them, but they aren’t defensive enough to expect them to play simultaneously in our usual 3-5-2 formation. 

It seems, like displayed in this last game, Correa would make for a deep-lying striker rotation with his Argentine countryman, Laturo.

He isn’t as prolific as Laturo is, but he is very good in his role.  Much like the Calhanoglu signing, I am very much looking forward to seeing what more he brings to the squad.

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