Head coach Marco Giampaolo considers midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu as a key foundation of his squad, a report claims.
Calhanoglu was one of the players linked with an exit this summer, as La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews.it) reported that Torino were interested in acquiring his services towards the end of the window.
Il Corriere dello Sport (via MN24) even went as far as saying talks were ‘intensifying more and more’, and Calciomercato.com then added that Paolo Maldini does not consider the midfielder unsellable.
However, Calhanoglu has always maintained his desire to stay beyond the window – having rejected an offer from Fenerbahce – and now it appears he has been rewarded.
As per a report from Calciomercato.com, Giampaolo is a big fan of the Turkey international and has shown this by including him in the starting XI for the first three games of the season.
RB Leipzig and Leicester were ‘temptations’ for Calhanoglu, the report adds, but for Maldini the will of the player to stay and fight for his spot was enough.
Looking ahead to the derby, the next step for Hakan is to find consistency in big games and even produce some offensive output. Could he be the hero?
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