Hakan Calhanoglu has hit an even higher level than Marcelo Brozovic in holding midfield for Inter Milan this season.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
In recent seasons, few players have been as irreplaceable for Inter as Marcelo Brozovic.
In what was perhaps the Croatian international’s peak at the club, Brozovic was the very foundation of how Inter aimed to play during the 2021-22 season, the club’s first with Simone Inzaghi as coach.
Illustrating that fact was the team’s form when Brozovic was absent.
The Croat was out with either injury or suspension for three matches. These matches saw Inter take a paltry two points in total.
That meant that, heading into last season, Brozovic looked ready to be right at the heart of Inter’s midfield once again.
But a couple long-term injuries to the 31-year-old deprived Inter of their first-choice regista for a few months in total.
Hakan Calhanoglu Surpasses Even Marcelo Brozovic At Inter
As it turned out, the absence of Brozovic didn’t hit Inter nearly as hard as would have been expected.
The reason was that Calhanoglu stepped into the holding midfield role.
And the Turkish international did brilliantly playing in the position.
Like Brozovic, Calhanoglu had started out as a more attack-minded midfield. And similarly to the Croat, he had moved deeper and deeper on the pitch throughout his career.
Calhanoglu looked like he was a player who had fully completed his transformation the way that Brozovic.
That meant that Inter were willing to sell Brozovic last summer.
And even with Calhanoglu’s form, parting ways with the Croat was a risk.
But the Nerazzurri have not seemed to miss Brozovic much at all.
Calhanoglu has been, arguably, Inter’s outstanding player this season – even in a campaign that has seen captain Lautaro Martinez absolutely on fire in front of goal.
In the view of the Gazzetta, the 29-year-old has been having the kind of season that even Brozovic never quite managed.
