Hakan Calhanoglu has claimed that half of the city ‘hate’ him and admitted he wants a derby against AC Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals.
There is no love lost between Calhanoglu and the Milan fans given that he left the Rossoneri in the summer of 2021 after they did not renew his contract and decided to join city rivals Inter on a free transfer.
After being runner-up to the Nerazzurri in the Scudetto battle when he was with Milan in 2020-21, he had to watch his former team-mates celebrate the lifting of the league title last May as Stefano Pioli’s side pipped Simone Inzaghi’s men to be crowned champions.
Interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Calhanoglu spoke of his experience at Inter so far – with a renewal apparently close – and he couldn’t resist a couple of thinly veiled comments about Milan.
“Let’s put it this way: for half of the city I’m an idol and half an enemy. Half loves me and half hates me,” he said (via SempreMilan.it).
“On the same day I happened to hear Milanisti insults and Interisti chants on the street. It’s something to do with football, I won’t be the first or the last to experience a situation like this.
I have a tough character that helps me to go further. And in the end the love of the Inter fans is enough for me. Derby in the Champions League? I would love it, it would be history.”
