Inter may have made one of the most effective signings of last summer’s transfer window by bringing in Hakan Calhanoglu on a free transfer from city rivals AC Milan.
This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper La Repubblica, who note how the Nerazzurri strengthened their own team whilst removing an important player from a direct rival.
Calhanoglu will be perhaps even more motivated than his Nerazzurri teammates to win the Scudetto ahead of Milan, knowing that he does not want to have made the switch from the team that finished second last season to the one that does so this time around.
Even if the 28-year-old does not win the title this season, however, he’s left few in doubt about his quality with his performances in an Inter shirt.
And if the Nerazzurri do go on to win the title, Calhanoglu’s performances will have been a big part of it, with the Turk having established himself as a key man in their engine room.
Not only that, but the Rossoneri have never really fully replaced the midfielder, with the likes of Brahim Diaz, Franck Kessie, and Rade Krunic playing in his old Number Ten role to sometimes good effect but never influencing matches as he had.
Milan have changed things around to cope with the loss of Calhanoglu quite well and are still in a commanding position in the title race.
However, if the Nerazzurri can catch up to them and repeat last season’s Scudetto win, it will owe a lot to their signing of Calhanoglu from their rivals without a transfer fee involved.
