Hakan Calhanoglu has been “Mr. Reliable” for Inter Milan from the penalty spot, with fourteen taken and fourteen scored.
This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
Inter have had some issues from the penalty spot in recent seasons.
Perhaps the most significant one concerns the less-than-stellar record of captain Lautaro Martinez.
For as prolific as Martinez is from open play, spot kicks are undeniably an Achilles’ heel for the Argentine.
Martinez missed from the spot against Spezia in a shock league loss last season. He also missed his effort in a Coppa Italia defeat against Bologna earlier this campaign.
And then it was last month’s Champions League round of sixteen exit to Atletico Madrid that really shone the spotlight on Martinez’s penalty-taking woes.
With all the pressure on his shoulders in a shootout, Martinez stepped up to take a must-score penalty.
The Inter captain’s effort was not merely wide – it was an abysmal penalty that sailed into the stands.
Hakan Calhanoglu “Mr. Reliable” From The Penalty Spot For Inter
If Inter were relying on Martinez as their first-choice taker, then perhaps the 26-year-old’s issues from the spot would be more of a problem for his team.
But that is not the case.
Rather, it is former AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Calhanoglu who has that duty.
The 30-year-old has been the Nerazzurri’s main penalty-taker essentially since his arrival.
And Calhanoglu’s record shows why that is the case.
The Turkish international has taken fourteen penalties in an Inter shirt. And he has not failed to score even one of them.
Calhanoglu’s combination of technique and composure mean that Inter have a sense of certainty when he steps up to take a penalty.
The Corriere note that the most recent penalty miss by Calhanoglu was for his country. The Turk missed a penalty in a EURO 2024 qualifier against Wales last June.
