Juventus, Inter or Man Utd? Where Will Hakan Calhanoglu Go?

AC Milan, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021, Transfer Market One comment

Things are never quite simple at Milanello. Just when the Rossoneri were beginning to find their feet on the heels of a positive 2020 which currently see them leading the Serie A table, Milan could lose several players for free in 2021 – as their contacts are about to expire – and chief among them is the Turkish international Hakan Çalhanoğlu. In case he decides to walk out on his current employers, the attacking-midfielder wouldn’t lack the options, as Juventus, Inter, and even Manchester United are all reportedly vying for his signature. 

But at this point of his career, what would be the wisest move for Hakan? Let’s have a look at the rumored options. 

1- Juventus 

If you’re willing to believe Tuttosport, its latest reports claim that Juventus are well ahead in the race to sign Çalhanoğlu, either as a free agent in June, or as soon as January. 

Since the start of the Andrea Pirlo era, the young coach seems to favor Aaron Ramsey in the attacking-midfield position. But with the Welshman often injured, and the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Weston McKennie fitting better in different positions, a genuine AM seems to be needed at Juventus. Plus, after the departure of Miralem Pjanic in the summer, the Bianconeri squad lacks a ball-passing midfielder and a free-kick specialist. 

Whilst a move in January is probably unlikely at this point, a summer move for an established free-agent does seem like a familiar Juventus move, as the club has previously shown the willingness to offer high wages for Bosman signings, which could meet the high demands of Hakan. 

2- Inter

Now here’s another move that would truly anger the Rossoneri faithfuls. Antonio Conte’s Inter are reportedly in the race to sway away Çalhanoğlu to the other side of the city. But the question remains over whether this transfer would suit the demands of the Nerazzurri manager. 

As we’ve seen with the likes of Radja Nainggolan and more particularly Christian Eriksen, being considered a top class attacking-midfielder isn’t enough to persuade Conte, as the former Juventus coach prefers a more combative type of midfielder in that role, and thus the well-rounded Nicolò Barella has so far proved to be the ideal solution. 

So whilst the Turk is tipped as a potential replacement for Eriksen at Inter, he should be careful not to end up with the same disappointing fate as the Danish international. 

3- Milan 

Now here’s a far simpler solution, instead of having to “betray” the Curva Sud, Çalhanoğlu can still decide to extend his stay with his current club for years to come. The number 10 is reportedly asking for an annual wage of around 7M euros, which would be considered as a huge increase on his current wage of 2.5M, but Milan’s offer remains somewhere around 6M. 

But a solution can still be found as the two sides might find their currently flourishing partnership too precious to be broken, even if the monetary disagreement seems significant enough. 

4- Manchester United 

Moving on abroad, Hakan had been linked with a move for Manchester United even before the latest reports regarding Juventus and Inter. Although a transfer to the EPL giants would be considered a dream move for most players, one must wonder how convenient a deal would be for both the player and the club. 

Although the former English and European champions can easily match the Turk’s contract demands, Ole Gunnar Solskjær might need a natural winger at the moment more than attacking-midfielder, especially with Bruno Fernandes being considered as the club’s main creative force. Thus, a move to Old Trafford would be financially rewarding for Çalhanoğlu, but perhaps less so in footballing terms, as he could have to settle for a secondary role. 

5- Atletico Madrid

A move to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium has also been mentioned in some reports regarding the future of Çalhanoğlu. But whilst his compatriot Arda Turan found great success in Atletico Madrid, the Turkish “bad boy” was a natural winger who perfectly fitted Diego Simeone’s 4-4-2 formation, unlike Hakan who struggled in the wide positions, as Milan fans would recall. 

Our View

Having so many great options must be delightful for the Milan playmaker, but a wrong decision could prove to be fatal for Çalhanoğlu’s career right when he’s about to enter his prime years. As we stated above, it’s unlikely that the 26-year-old would be able to unlock a starting berth at Manchester United in his favorite AM role, and his characteristics don’t exactly suit Atletico’s current tactical formation. 

A transfer to Inter could be a tempting idea, with Antonio Conte continuing to build a war machine that can conquer Italian football, but Hakan would run the risk of failing to convince the former Chelsea tactician, who mainly opts for runners instead of creators. 

It must be said, the best option for Çalhanoğlu in case decides to leave Milan would be joining Juventus, as Andrea Pirlo would appreciate the presence of a player who can genuinely link the midfield with the attack. But the young manager’s future at the club future is far from certain beyond this season.

Thus, staying at Milan could be the Turk’s ideal option at the moment, as after overcoming three complicated years in Northern Italy, Hakan has finally found his niche in 2020, and has built an excellent understanding with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the rest of his teammates, and it would be a shame to leave the club right when its future is beginning to look brighter. 

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