Italian Journalist Hails Inter Milan Midfielder As “Extraordinary”

Italian journalist Massimo Marinella feels that Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu is an “extraordinary” player.

Speaking on Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, the journalist reacted to the Nerazzurri midfielder’s performance in a 1-1 draw by the Turkish national team in a EURO 2024 qualifier against Armenia.

This season, Calhanoglu has already laid down a marker as one of Inter’s key players.

The 29-year-old has followed up last season’s consistent run of performances in the heart of the Nerazzurri midfield by being right at the heart of everything positive that they’ve done in the first few matches of this season.

Inter have played three and won three. They’ve managed to score eight goals in the process.

The tireless work of Calhanoglu in midfield has been vital to this impressive record at the start of the campaign.

Massimo Marianella: Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu “Extraordinary”

Last season, Calhanoglu was transitioned into more of a deep-lying playmaker role.

That is the position that the Turk has been playing this season. He has fully inherited the first-choice mantle from Marcelo Brozovic.

And with his national team, Calhanoglu tends to really show his versatility.

The 29-year-old former AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder’s combination of technical skill, tireless energy, and intelligent reading of the game have allowed him to be the heartbeat of both his club and national sides.

And Calhanoglu has even become Turkey’s captain.

Striker Burak Yilmaz retired from international football. And it was Inter midfielder Calhanoglu who inherited the armband from the veteran striker.

Calhanoglu and Turkey did not exactly get the win they wanted against Armenia.

However, they did at least manage to snatch a point from the match. And they had to come back late in the match to do so.

And, not too surprisingly, Calhanoglu played a key role in all of it.

Marianella hailed the midfielder’s “Great intuition, which gave rise to the equalizer.”

“His touch, his vision, we saw all of it. He’s a player who is extraordinary.”