Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has praised Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu, calling him one of the players in his role.
The 29-year-old has established himself as a mainstay and supporter of the Nerazzurri since his move to Crosstown in 2021.
The Turkish foreigner began his career as an attacking midfielder and evolved into a deep playmaker.
Sacchi admits that allowing Calhanoglu to leave would possibly have been a mistake on Milan’s part. He compares the Turk’s career trajectory to that of Andrea Pirlo, a player he once rejected.
“Hakan is doing very well and, above all, he’s doing many things. You see him all over the pitch. He works hard and makes his teammates run,” said the 77-year-old as published by La Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews.
“Was Milan wrong to let him go? In retrospect, it seems so. But those are incidents that happen in football.
“I, for example, passed the opportunity to sign Andrea Pirlo. And then he became a great player.
“In Milan, Calhanoglu had already shown that he is good. However, he is an attacking midfielder. Now he is the one pulling the strings in the middle of the field.
The former Milan and Italy coach also describes the Nerazzurri midfielder as a complete player. But he recognizes the quality of those who play alongside him and help him become a better playmaker.
“Calhanoglu is a complete player. He can take on any role in midfield. He moves with wonderful intelligence and makes his teammates move by dictating the timing of almost each and every action.
“He knows when to play short passes and when to throw long balls. By converting jobs, he demonstrated his intellectual abilities.
“He understood his qualities as well as the abilities of his teammates. He made himself available and a new Calhanoglu was born.
“We have to admit that Barella and Mkhitaryan are very supportive of Hakan. The full-backs also play a role, especially Dimarco on the left.
“But just like Pirlo, Calhanoglu is showing a remarkable personality. He is the fulcrum of this Inter team, the one which everything revolves around.”
Finally, Sacchi insists that Calhanoglu is one of the three most sensible players in his position in Europe.
“Hakan is one of the three most productive European players in his position. He’s made progress.
“He knows how to create the game and how to defend. But above all, he has the character to lead the team. “
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