Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu will be out for at least three matches for the Nerazzurri whilst he recovers from the injury he picked up in Turkey’s EURO 2024 qualifier against Croatia yesterday.
This according to Italian news outlet Gazzetta.it, who report that medical tests tomorrow should reveal further details about the seriousness of the 29-year-old’s groin strain, but that he will at least miss the upcoming matches against Fiorentina, Juventus, and Salernitana.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi will be waiting anxiously for more information regarding when Calhanoglu will be able to return to the pitch from his injury.
The midfielder had to be replaced late in the first half of Turkey’s loss to Croatia yesterday, whilst coach Stefan Kuntz confirmed after the match that the reason was a groin strain although more tests would be needed to reveal the scope of the injury.
Key player’s fitness a potential doubt for Champions League clash with Benfica
The former AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen man has been central to the Nerazzurri in all senses this season, having already racked up a total of 36 appearances for the club across all competitions.
With nine matches in just thirty days across the month of February, Inzaghi will certainly not want to be without one of the most important players in his squad.
According to the Gazzetta, Calhanoglu will not only miss this weekend’s return to Serie A action against Fiorentina, but he is also virtually guaranteed to miss the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal tie against Juventus whilst he recovers, and the subsequent league match against Salernitana.
The key question could be whether or not Calhanoglu will be fit for the first leg of Inter’s Champions League quarterfinal tie against Benfica.
According to the Gazzetta, it is clear that the 29-year-old will be out of action for the three matches prior to the Nerazzurri’s trip to Lisbon, and so his availability to face the Portuguese league leaders could go down to the wire.
