In the current winter transfer window of the football world, a midfield general has become a common target for two giants, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, and he is none other than Hakan Calhanoglu, the midfield core of Inter Milan.
Firstly, let's talk about the situation at Manchester City, which can be described as being mired in the quagmire of the defensive midfielder position. The season-ending injury to Rodri dealt a heavy blow to the team's midfield defense system. Nunes' performance failed to meet expectations, while Kovacic was plagued by injuries. These unfavorable factors combined have led to a significant drop in City's results. Looking at the Premier League table, they are only in sixth place, with the once title contenders now gradually falling away from the championship group. The personnel shortage in the defensive midfielder position is like a heavy shackle, restricting the overall strength of the team.
As for Bayern Munich, the situation is similarly grim. The team's two defensive midfielders, Pavlovic and Parigna, are both on the sickbed, posing a huge challenge to Bayern's defense. Despite Kane's dominance in attack, scoring goals galore and leading the team to the top of the league standings, football is a sport that emphasizes balance between attack and defense. In the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, the importance of defense is self-evident. Without a strong defensive midfielder to intercept and organize in midfield, it would be extremely difficult for the team to progress further in the Champions League.
Against this backdrop, the name Hakan Calhanoglu stands out even more brilliantly. He is considered the cream of the crop among defensive midfielders, and after Rodri's injury, he is regarded as the number one defensive midfielder in today's football world. His abilities are all-round. On the offensive end, his free-kick skills are second to none. He is like a cannonball, running up to shoot, with the ball tracing a beautiful arc, always posing a great threat to the opponent's goal. Moreover, his offensive awareness and passing creativity are also outstanding, averaging many threatening opportunities in attack, with stable goal and assist outputs each season. This season, he has already scored 4 goals and provided 2 assists in the league for Inter Milan, playing a positive role in the attack that cannot be ignored.
Defensively, Calhanoglu shows an indomitable side. His physical fitness is excellent, with strong confrontation ability, allowing him to engage in fierce battles with opposing players in midfield. His defensive awareness and anticipation are superb, often skillfully completing interceptions on the opponent's passing routes and quickly starting defensive counterattacks. His versatile midfield attributes, with both offensive talent and excellent defensive capabilities, make him shine like a brilliant gem in today's football environment.
Calhanoglu's market value is 40 million euros. In 2021, he joined Inter Milan, the city rivals of Milan, as a free agent, winning three Italian Super Cups, two Italian Cups, and one Serie A title in three years.