Hakan Calhanoglu is returning to face Bayer Leverkusen as something of a “prodigal son” with Inter Milan this week.
Italian outlet FCInterNews highlight the significance of the Turkish international’s match against his former club.
Bayer Leverkusen are perhaps the club where Calhanoglu really broke out on a European stage.
The Turk had one impressive season at Hamburg where he showed his qualities in the Bundesliga. That earned him a move to Leverkusen in 2014.
And Calhanoglu spent three seasons with Leverkusen between 2014 and 2017.
“Prodigal Son” Hakan Calhanoglu Returns To Leverkusen With Inter
At his best, Calhanoglu was undoubtedly one of the Bundesliga’s outstanding attacking players at Leverkusen.
But there were some criticisms regarding the Turkish international’s consistency.
Nevertheless, AC Milan decided to make Calhanoglu a big money signing in the summer of 2017.
For the Rossoneri, it could be said that they got the best of Calhanoglu.
Whether playing on the wing or in an attacking midfield role, the Turk had some outstanding performances and moments. But there was also a sense that he drifted out of matches.
Calhanoglu then made the switch to Milan’s city rivals Inter in the summer of 2021.
And it is in a Nerazzurri shirt that Calhanoglu has truly found his best form.
The Turk had already been moving deeper and deeper on the pitch at Milan. And at Inter, he has adopted the position of holding midfielder.
Playing at the base of Inter’s central trio, there is arguably no player more influential on the Nerazzurri’s style of play than Calhanoglu.
And now, more than seven years after leaving Leverkusen for Serie A, the 30-year-old returns. But he does so as a much different player.
