Inter Milan have reached the final of the Champions League. Strong midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu's side are unstoppable from AC Milan. The ex-Bundesliga player shines with his standards.
Inter Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu (left) is in the final of the Champions League
His free kicks and corner kicks received a special rating from the opposing players. The standard situations executed by Hakan Calhanoglu are “torches” is heard again and again from the opponents. What is meant is the sharpness and accuracy with which the 29-year-old has been presenting his footballing specialty for many years. Now the native of Mannheim has the opportunity to present his skills with Inter Milan in the Champions League final on June 10 in Istanbul.
Calhanoglu and his team beat local rivals AC Milan in both semifinals. The 2-0 win in the first leg was followed by a 1-0 (0-0) in the second leg. Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive goal (74th). The opponent will be played between Manchester City and Real Madrid on Wednesday evening.
Thanks to the father
Especially piquant in the case of Calhanoglu: The midfielder wore the jersey of AC Milan until 2021. He played for the Rossoneri for four years. Now he has given his ex-club the bitter exit from the European premier class. His exceptional set piece skills make him an indispensable part of the Inter team, with whom he has won the Italian Super Cup twice and the Coppa Italia once. But why does Calhanoglu master this special shooting technique?
“I have my father to thank for that,” he once revealed. “We used to train a lot on a cage pitch. I wasn't supposed to hit the goal, I was supposed to hit the post or the crossbar. That taught me precision. I also watched a lot of Juninho's free-kicks on video. Eventually I got it. I know that I have good shooting technique and that it can help in the game.”
The crowning of the best season is in sight
And these skills make Calhanoglu a man in demand internationally. Premier League clubs are said to have already signaled their interest. However, there are rumors in Italy that Calhanoglu, who has already played for Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, will extend his contract with Inter Milan until 2027.
In any case, his self-confidence is high. “I see myself in my role among the five best players in Europe,” Calhanoglu told the Italian newspaper “Gazetta dello Sport” a few weeks ago. “I've improved in every way over the past few years and this is the best season of my career.” And he could now crown this with the title in the Champions League. Calhanoglu is just one game away.