In 2014, the Turkish midfielder claimed depression and skipped pre-season training, just months after signing a contract renewal and declaring `eternal love` for his club.
In Hamburg, his right foot might well have been exhibited at the Kunsthalle, the museum housing Caspar David Friedrich`s “Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog.” A masterpiece. Much like his 40-meter free-kick against Borussia Dortmund that found the top corner. Calhanoglu was the “prince” of the city on the Elbe. He had the entire Volksparkstadion behind him, but at a certain point, after a star season where he pulled the team out of the quicksand of relegation, he chose to leave, despite having previously declared eternal love.
VIDEO: Merk & Kremont and Inter`s celebration: `Calhanoglu took our place!`
The Farewell to Hamburg
Calhanoglu`s departures have always been tumultuous. His exit from Hamburg went down in history as a major rupture with the fanbase that had allowed him to play in the Bundesliga: “I want to become a pillar. The club is going through a difficult time and I want to help it get out of it.” In 2014, contract renewals were still announced on Facebook. Hakan wrote this mid-season, a season that concluded with salvation via play-offs, after 11 goals and ten assists. Just a couple of weeks later, however, the Turk approached the club`s hierarchy with a piece of paper in hand: “Bayer Leverkusen wants me. I`d like to be sold.” All this after achieving the survival goal: “I want to leave Hamburg; if I went to Bayer, I`d have enticing prospects for the next season. I want to try to reach the level of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. Please have some understanding for my great ambitions.”
The `Depression` Episode
This led to a skirmish. On June 18, he presented a certificate stating “depressed” and failed to report for pre-season training. The reason given was the insults he received from fans after news of his departure broke. Hakan changed his number, became unreachable, and didn`t respond to anyone, not even his coach. Rafael Van der Vaart, the man who had let him take free-kicks during the season, distanced himself from Calhanoglu`s attitude: “If he declares eternal love for the club and then disappears, it makes me think Hakan has a terrible agent.” Michel Mazingu-Dinzey, a former player who had played for St. Pauli – Hamburg`s second team – flatly stated: “There are many idiots in football, but he beats them all. The number 10 he wears on his jersey probably represents his IQ.”
The Departure from Milan
The story had a predictable end: Calhanoglu moved to Bayer for 15 million euros and immediately showed up for training. Every time he returned to Hamburg, he was booed, including during a match played with the national team in the last European Championship. The Volksparkstadion remained an open wound. The same can be said for AC Milan fans. In 2021, he left the Rossoneri on a free transfer after 32 goals in four years. In 2024, after winning the Scudetto with Inter, he mocked his old fans with an ironic post full of jabs. After the 2021 Supercoppa, he stated that “in six months he had already won a trophy.” And when he scored his first goal against AC Milan from a penalty, he celebrated by cupping his hands behind his ears.
The Suspension
But that`s not all. An extra signature cost him a four-month suspension imposed by FIFA and served in 2017, during his final year with Bayer. In 2011, at 17, he signed a kind of pre-contract with Trabzonspor. He and his father had agreed on terms and figures. At that time, Hakan played in Karlsruhe`s youth academy and had already attracted the attention of several clubs. He agreed to a contract with a hundred thousand euro bonus and the promise that at 18 he would fly to Trabzon to play in Turkey. It didn`t happen that way: Hamburg offered him a contract with higher figures and the chance to play in the Bundesliga. Calhanoglu spoke with his father and chose Option B. Trabzonspor found itself without its talent. From this, the request to FIFA: `We want a fine of one million euros and a six-month ban for the player.` The dispute concluded with 4 months out and one hundred thousand euros in compensation to be paid to the Turks. Nothing new. Hamburg`s Kunsthalle had already removed its `shrines`.
