Report – Ex AC Milan Star Could Change Position In Chivu’s New System At Inter Milan | OneFootball

Hakan Calhanoglu could be in for a change of position at Inter Milan in the new system of coach Cristian Chivu.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, predict that the 31-year-old could shift more to the attacking midfield role from his AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen days.

Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu is back at Inter Milan. The Turkish international returned to training this week, following what’s been a long, heated summer.

Transfer rumours linking Calhanoglu and Galatasaray have floated around for many weeks. Meanwhile, Fenerbahce also tried to bring the 31-year-old to Istanbul, according to some reports.

But Calhanoglu will in fact be staying at Inter this summer. The player himself confirmed as much.

Now, the big question is how Calhanoglu will fit in under new Inter coach Cristian Chivu.

Hakan Calhanoglu Could Have Attacking Midfielder Role Under Chivu At Inter

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC. Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Feyenoord at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Calhanoglu had been a pivotal player in every sense under Simone Inzaghi at Inter.

The former Nerazzurri coach had moved the Turk back from a box-to-box midfield role into the regista position at the base of Inter’s midfield trio.

However, early signs are that Chivu is not planning to stick to the midfield trio that Inzaghi used. Rather, he could go with a two-man central midfield, and two attacking midfielders behind one striker.

Therefore, Calhanoglu will not be useful in the same sort of holding midfield role.

On the other hand, the Gazzetta note, Calhanoglu has plenty of experience playing in an attacking midfield role.

That is the position that the Turkish international played in for much of his time at Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.

Therefore, Chivu could rely upon Calhanoglu’s goalscoring ability and eye for a pass in the final third. And then trust that he is more than capable of tracking back and doing the dirty work when need be.

Then, Nicolo Barella would be more of the midfield fulcrum. And players like Davide Frattesi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Piotr Zielinski, and Petar Sucic could have fluid roles between defensive and attacking midfield.