Chivu backs Calhanoglu despite age concerns
- Source
- Corriere dello SportTier 1
- By
- Pietro Guadagno
- Published
Key points
- Corriere dello Sport: Inter's midfield struggles without the Turkish playmaker, most evident in Roma defeat
- Calhanoglu has been central to Inter's system since October 2022, offering both creative direction and defensive stability
- Coach Chivu willing to accept injury risk given his unique importance; recovery will be cautious ahead of Bruges
Summary
Inter's reliance on Calhanoglu remains absolute nearly four years after Inzaghi repositioned him as the deep-lying playmaker. His absence was keenly felt in the Roma match, where the midfield lacked both defensive screening and creative spark. Chivu has made clear his commitment to keeping the Turkish midfielder at the club, resisting summer speculation and prioritising his availability over quantity of appearances. With a contract expiring in 2027 and recurring muscle problems in recent seasons, the coach is accepting the gamble that having Calhanoglu fit for crucial matches outweighs the risk of his physical limitations.
Original headline
L'Inter soffre senza Calhanoglu: ha conquistato anche Chivu anche se l'età...
Summarized and translated from the original report by FutbolDesk's editorial AI and checked automatically against the source. Details may differ — read the original for the full story. Copyright of the article belongs to the publisher and the journalist; for copyright questions and takedown requests, see the Copyright page.