Midfielder Kristjan Asllani will start for Inter Milan against Atalanta as Hakan Calhanoglu misses out with injury.
This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews.
Inter will have to cope without a key player for at least one more match in the form of Calhanoglu.
The 30-year-old Turkish international has suffered a thigh strain.
That injury kept Calhanoglu on the sidelines for Inter’s Serie A win away to Lecce over the weekend.
And it will also mean that the former AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder will play no part tomorrow as Inter host Atalanta in Serie A.
Then, Calhanoglu could return for the team’s Serie A match against Genoa next weekend.
If not then, then the 30-year-old should be back in time for the away trip to Bologna.
The aim will be to have Calhanoglu back to his best in time for the second leg of the Champions League round of sixteen tie against Atletico Madrid next month.
Kristjan Asllani To Start For Inter Vs Atalanta With Calhanoglu Injured
Calhanoglu plays a vital role in midfield for Inter.
The Turk is the Nerazzurri’s heartbeat in and out of possession in his deep-lying playmaker role.
So compensating for the absence of such a pivotal player is hardly straightforward.
But Calhanoglu does have a natural backup in the squad. That is 21-year-old Albanian international Asllani.
Asllani played against Lecce, doing well in the role, including assisting Lautaro Martinez for Inter’s opener.
Previously, the former Empoli midfielder had also started away to Fiorentina. That match saw Calhanoglu absent due to suspension.
And according to Tuttosport, there is no doubt that Asllani will reprise that role tomorrow.
Nicolo Barella came on for Asllani against Lecce on Sunday. Inter coach Simone Inzaghi took the Albanian off due to a yellow card.
Barella played deep, whilst Davide Frattesi played on the right of midfield.
But that role at the base of midfield is not really Barella’s natural position.
Tuttosport report that the former Cagliari man will return to the right-sided role in the trio. And Asllani will play as the regista.
