Hakan Calhanoglu has been in terrific form since Serie A restarted last month. The Turkish international has been one of the protagonists of Stefano Pioli’s team, but if the current moment is positive for Milan’s number 10, there are some question marks about the future.
Not long ago Calciomercato.com reported that the Rossoneri management are in talks with Calhanoglu’s agent regarding a contract renewal, with the current agreement between the parties expiring in June 2021.
The aforementioned question marks, however, come exactly from the player himself. The midfielder spoke in an interview with Goal.com (via milanlive.it), mainly about the current positive moment of the team but also about his own future at the San Siro.
“Our win against Juventus? It feels very good. We played against a very strong team. After the 2-0 we never game up and we tried to do something by creating many opportunities. After Zlatan’s penalty, trust returned,” he said.
Calhanoglu went on to speak about Stefano Pioli’s impact at the club and how the former Inter and Fiorentina coach communicated with him at the beginning of his tenure at the San Siro. Moreover, the Turk also spoke about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s effect on the team since his January arrival.
“He [Pioli] took me to his room and spoke to me saying that he knows me from Leverkusen because I played against him when he coached Lazio. He told me he knows my role and my qualities. I told him I like to play number 10 because that’s my natural position. It gave me all the security I need on the pitch.
“Ibrahimovic? He is a real line, just see how he trains and plays. He always wants to win, even in training. Once I played with him and he was furious, he entered the dressing room really angry. This is what I like to see about him, his mentality is very strong.”
Finally, Calhanoglu addressed the turbulent last couple of years at the club and also shed some doubt on his future at the San Siro, seeing as his contract with Milan expires in less than a year.
“I’ve been here for 3 years, but since I’ve been here things have always changed. I have already trained with four coaches and managers, stability is not like before at Milan. Everyone tries to do the best for the club but something is missing. I hope I can bring Milan back to what it was before,” Calhanoglu added.
“Milan is great and remains such, an incredible club. I came to Milan with all my heart and I want to play in the Champions League with the Rossoneri. This is where the club must be. I think it’s the moment when I have to decide well because the next season is the last one (in contractual terms).
“I now have 7 games ahead of me. I started well after the Coronavirus and I want to continue like this. We will see what will happen in the future. I have to decide with my agent. I love Milan and it’s fantastic for me to wear the number 10 because I know the great players who wore it before,” he concluded.
