Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu could make his hundredth appearance as an Inter Milan player against Empoli tomorrow.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, note the possible milestone for the 29-year-old.
Turkish international Calhanoglu is now in his third season as an Inter player.
The ex-Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg man joined the Nerazzurri on a free transfer from city rivals AC Milan during the summer of 2021.
When Calhanoglu arrived, he was essentially a like-for-like replacement for current Manchester United and former Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax man Christian Eriksen.
Calhanoglu had already started to transition to a box-to-box role from a position as an attacking midfielder or winger during his time at the Rossoneri.
And at Inter, the Turk has only moved deeper on the pitch.
During Calhanoglu’s first season at the Nerazzurri, he largely played as a box-to-box midfielder on the left.
And last season, Calhanoglu made another change to his main position.
Hakan Calhanoglu Could Make 100th Inter Milan Appearance Tomorrow
Last season, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi tried using Calhanoglu as a deep-lying playmaker whilst Marcelo Brozovic was out with an injury.
This had looked to be nothing more than an emergency solution at the time.
But it proved to be something far more than that.
Calhanoglu thrived in his new role at the base of midfield. So much so that the former Milan midfielder often started there even when Brozovic was fit and available.
Inter sold Brozovic this summer. It is now clear that Calhanoglu is the first-choice option in his position.
Therefore, it is no surprise that the 29-year-old has raced into triple digits in terms of his appearance count at Inter.
Calhanoglu was not able to hit the 100 milestone against Real Sociedad on Wednesday. He missed that match through a minor injury.
But the Turk is available again, and could reach it tomorrow against Empoli.
