Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has become a real leader on the pitch for the Nerazzurri since he has been moved into a deeper role in midfield this season.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who highlight how with his newfound role at the base of the Nerazzurri’s midfield trio, the 29-year-old has become the player who sets the tone and organizes play.
Throughout his career, Calhanoglu has been a player who has been tasked with providing inspiration to his teams in the final third and more advanced positions, whether in attacking midfield, box-to-box midfield, or even on the wing.
Since his move to Inter from city rivals AC Milan in the summer of 2021, there have been clear signs that the former Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg midfielder would be transitioned into a deeper role on the pitch.
Last season, it was in a box-to-box mezzala role that the Turk was used, deploying not just his technical ability and passing range but also his stamina, defensive awareness, and tackling.
This season, Calhanoglu has been moved all the way back to the regista position.
The way that the 29-year-old has played the position has seen him unafraid to make vital last-ditch defensive actions, organize the midfield in front of the defense, and set the tempo with his passing from deep.
For the Corriere, this is evidence that Calhanoglu has become a leader on the pitch for this Inter.
