Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has successfully made the move back from attacking midfield to the regista position in recent matches.
This transformation has been compared to that of legendary former Nerazzurri, AC Milan, Juventus, and Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
The regista role at the base of midfield has often been played successfully by players who had initially played a more attacking roles.
Pirlo was a player who in his Inter days primarily played as a more attacking trequartista, before transitioning into a deeper role.
It was in this position that the former midfielder established himself as an all-time great for Milan, Juventus, and Italy.
Calhanoglu’s teammates Marcelo Brozovic followed a similar stylistic path, having come to Inter playing in attacking midfield or on the wing initially before being used as a defensive midfielder.
Like Pirlo, the Croat has used his technical ability and passing range to dictate the tempo of matches and control the team’s attack.
However, with Brozovic out injured, Inter have needed a new solution at the base of their midfield trio.
Calhanoglu, who had already been transformed from a purely attacking midfielder or winger into a box-to-box mezzala at Milan and then Inter, was moved even further back to cover for Brozovic.
The 28-year-old has impressed in recent displays where he’s shown that there’s little he cannot do in the regista position.
For the Gazzetta, even the “sacreligious” comparison to Pirlo can be made based on the Turk’s recent displays.
