Inter Milan midfielder Kristjan Asllani feels that he learns a lot from his teammate Hakan Calhanoglu.

The Albanian spoke to Italian broadcaster SportItalia after the Nerazzurri’s 2-1 Serie A win over Genoa, via FCInterNews.

Asllani gave a clear demonstration of just how far he’s come at Inter against Genoa yesterday.

The 21-year-old’s goal was the big highlight reel moment. It was his first in an Inter shirt, and he took it very well.

But there was more to Asllani’s performance than just the goal.

The former Empoli midfielder had a mature presence about him in the holding midfield role.

That position is not an easy one for any player to play. But particularly not for a player as young as Asllani.

But the Albanian international has had some great role models to work with in training every day.

Last season, there was Marcelo Brozovic. And this time around, it is just Hakan Calhanoglu who has been ahead of him in the regista position.

Kristjan Asllani On Learning From Hakan Calhanoglu

Former AC Milan midfielder Calhanoglu has not been an easy player to displace from the Inter starting eleven.

The Turk has been one of the Nerazzurri’s outstanding performers this season.

But Asllani has been called into action in Inter’s last three matches. Calhanoglu has been out with a muscle injury, so the 21-year-old has started against the likes of Lecce, Atalanta, and Genoa.

Inter have not missed Calhanoglu too much.

And this has been down to the solid displays of Asllani in the Turk’s place.

But even if Calhanoglu has not been on the pitch, his influence has been there. Asllani owes some of how he’s played to how much he’s learned from his teammate.

“Calhanoglu helps me every day,” he said. “Even off the pitch, in everything.”

“He’s a fantastic guy. I learn a lot from him, including off the pitch.”

Of the win over Genoa, Asllani said that “It was a very difficult match.”

“Especially in the second half we had to suffer like a great team.”

“Congratulations to Genoa on the style of football they showed. They made us suffer.”

“But in the first half in particular we showed a lot of positive things. Particularly in possession, how we moved the ball from back to front.”

And of his first goal for the Nerazzurri, Asllani said that “I was very happy. I’ve been waiting for it for a long time.”