Let`s start with the only certainty amidst this confusion: Calhanoglu is a fantastic midfielder. He`s arguably the best in his role in the league and one of the top in Europe. While Rodri, the recent Ballon d`Or winner, is superior, he plays in a Manchester City side where everyone contributes to playmaking and attacking. Tchouameni is different; he`s a defensive midfielder who supports the backline, a modern Busquets. Vitinha represents the modern evolution of Pirlo and Modric, possessing movement and vision akin to a number 10 starting from deep.
Calhanoglu, himself a former number 10, has delivered spectacle, play, and rhythm, combining deep-lying playmaking and high-level competitive spirit. Calha has multiplied Inter`s effectiveness. He can play as the deep-lying pivot, share the role alongside Barella or Mkhitaryan, or swap positions with the mezzalas. Gattuso first tried him in this role at Milan, and Inzaghi truly elevated him. Despite not-insignificant physical issues in the past year, any departure from Inter would not be painless. If he leaves, an alternative like Ederson, more of an `8` than a `10`, would be needed. The real question is: can Calhanoglu stay after the reported falling out with Lautaro and their respective partners, sparked between Charlotte and Istanbul?
Dynamics
Some might dismiss a dispute between two players as minor. At Lazio, they didn`t just argue; they literally fought in training all week, then channeled that “violence” onto the pitch aiming only to win. Nobody ignores the undercurrents and divisions that can exist even within historic top clubs. In Inter`s recent locker room, the case involving Brozovic and Icardi, both leaders at the time, was no secret, yet they would embrace after a goal. It`s likely things will be similar between Lautaro and Calha, but what was said goes beyond a momentary outburst with general or specific mitigating factors. This touches upon a core issue in team dynamics: `I`m committed, and you`re not,` `I sacrifice, and you don`t,` `I want to stay, and you`re thinking of leaving.` More or less, this is the essence. Perhaps the result against Fluminense, the distance, the time difference, and the heat of the moment triggered a misunderstanding that went further than intended. Certainly, Lautaro wasn`t just upset with Calha.
If the Turk were leaving, everything would be resolved; there wouldn`t even be a risk of meeting in European competitions since Galatasaray didn`t qualify, at most a Turkey-Argentina match at the next World Cup. But Calhanoglu`s transfer situation appears blocked.
Choices
Galatasaray pursued Osimhen directly but the latest news is they lack the funds and guarantees for the five installments to Napoli. So, Calha is out of the question for them. There`s currently no news of other suitors. Inter would ultimately let the Turk go for less than thirty million euros, but not for free. Otherwise, he`ll stay; his contract is two years, and the balance sheet will be evaluated at the end of this season.
Lautaro and Calha have reportedly spoken, according to the official version, but it`s unclear if they actually talked or just exchanged messages. It`s not the same thing. The “chat” served for a `clarification`, not for a proper explanation, and even less for apologies. Long faces remained, as did the distance between the two leaders` (along with Barella) holiday spots. It`s not guaranteed that everything will go smoothly on the pitch afterwards. As if the problems for Chivu weren`t already significant enough.
Conclusion
The new coach must rebuild the morale of a team that believed until May 30th and then suffered a terrible knockout the next day. He must rejuvenate a rather aging squad, and he must invent new technical and tactical approaches. In short, he needs to create an Inter that is far more different from the previous one than Inzaghi`s team was from Conte`s. What he absolutely didn`t need was an internal feud, especially not between two reserves warming the bench. The club will also need to intervene before the situation gets out of hand. Is coexistence possible? The doubt is strong.
The impression is that selling Calha would make everyone happy: Lautaro, the club which had the Turk on the market, and the player himself who already seemed to have his head elsewhere. But the story risks ending here: Lautaro will also need to clarify things with the other teammates who were the target of his post-Fluminense criticism.
