Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu says that he “never thought about leaving Inter Milan” despite links to Bayern this summer.
The Turkish international spoke to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews. He addressed the rumours of interest in his signature this summer from the German giants.
This summer, links between Calhanoglu and Bayern made up perhaps the most high-profile transfer story involving Inter.
Reports emerged during June that the German giants were keen on signing the 30-year-old.
There was a certain logic to the interest. Calhanoglu is a player who knows the Bundesliga well, having played for the likes of Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen.
And Calhanoglu certainly has the kind of profile that Bayern are looking for in midfield as they aim to wrestle back their dominance in the German top flight.
The Turk has become a top-level holding midfielder during his time at Inter.
Last season, Calhanoglu earned the accolade of the top midfielder in Serie A.
Hakan Calhanoglu: “Never Thought About Leaving Inter” Despite Bayern Links
In the end, the rumours surrounding Calhanoglu and Bayern were a tempest in a teapot.
It was the player himself who quashed the links. Calhanoglu directly addressed the matter in a social media post after the rumours had been swirling for only a few days.
Bayern moved on to getting a deal done to sign Joao Palhinha from Fulham instead.
Calhanoglu said of the situation that “People who know me know the way I am.”
“I always keep silent. I don’t talk much.”
“I like to keep working and improving,” Calhanoglu said. “And I can say that over the last three years I’ve had the good fortune to be with incredible teammates and fans.”
“I’ve grown thanks to them,” the former AC Milan midfielder said.
“I never thought about leaving,” Calhanoglu made clear. “I was always certain that I’d stay at Inter.”
“Then the rumours started to come out. But I didn’t say anything.”
“I preferred to just concentrate on my work,” the midfielder explained.
“But then in the end I decided to say something about them, just so that everyone would be able to relax.”
Of starting the season as reigning Serie A champions, Calhanoglu said that “We know we did something great.”
“But that means that this season the other teams are more motivated to beat us.”
“It will be important for us to confirm our place at the top,” Calhanoglu said. “We’re working hard, it’s tough because it’s been very hot but we’re ready to face Genoa.”
