Inter Milan`s exit from the Club World Cup has triggered significant internal unrest. Following sharp remarks from Captain Lautaro Martinez – who suggested that anyone unwilling to commit should step aside – Hakan Calhanoglu offered a public reply. The Turkish midfielder, who was also referenced by club president Marotta, took to social media to clarify his position. “There`s no hidden story, just a muscle injury,” he stated. “I have always been close to the group. I respect opinions, but respect cannot be one-sided.” This message served to reaffirm his loyalty to Inter and underscore the importance of his past decisions, notably turning down Bayern Munich to remain with the Nerazzurri.
Calhanoglu further addressed the atmosphere that developed after the defeat against Fluminense: “These are words that divide, not unite. I have always strived to be a point of reference. History will remember who stood firm, not who was loudest.” His wife publicly voiced her support for him, posting messages implicitly directed at Lautaro. Furthermore, several teammates, including Marcus Thuram and Marko Arnautovic, liked Calhanoglu`s post, signaling apparent fractures within the squad. Before the team`s return to Italy – though not everyone was heading back immediately, as Lautaro went to Argentina for holidays – a meeting was reportedly facilitated by Chivu at the hotel to attempt to mend relations ahead of the planned July 23rd restart.
Despite this, the Turkish midfielder`s future remains uncertain. Galatasaray has reportedly submitted an initial offer, but Inter values the player at 40 million euros. A departure is not entirely ruled out, though the club might consider a deal closer to 25 million. The prevailing sentiment is that the sporting disappointment has merely accelerated underlying tensions within a group that, arguably more than ever, appears to be reaching the end of its current cycle. In other news, Inter has welcomed Ange-Yoan Bonny: the young French forward is expected to finalize his contract until 2029 in the coming hours, as part of an operation valued at 25 million euros including performance-related bonuses. Parma is also set to receive 20% of any future resale profit for the player.
