The very public spat between Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu appears like probably the most appropriate ending to a dismal season for Inter, writes Susy Campanale.
Maybe Cristian Chivu ought to thank Lautaro Martinez for managing to utterly overshadow the Membership World Cup elimination by the hands of Fluminense. The captain’s post-match statements aimed squarely at want-away teammate Calhanoglu distracted everybody from one other terrible efficiency, one which confirmed this squad is
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 30: Stefan de Vrij #6 of FC Internazionale Milano reacts to a missed try on objective throughout the FIFA Membership World Cup 2025 spherical of 16 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Fluminense FC at Financial institution of America Stadium on June 30, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs)
Simone Inzaghi noticed the writing on the wall lengthy earlier than the 5-0 Champions League Closing defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, simply as Calhanoglu can see it’s the perfect time to maneuver on. It has been a powerful 4 years for the Nerazzurri, profitable the Scudetto, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italia and reaching two Champions League Finals. You would argue Inzaghi ought to’ve had multiple Serie A title contemplating it was simply the strongest squad within the event over these 4 years, however progressing up to now in Europe on that finances is to not be underestimated.
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All good issues should come to an finish, and this Inter workforce has for months seemed like it’s working on empty. A protracted relaxation – which they gained’t get anyway due to the Membership World Cup participation, albeit temporary – gained’t be sufficient to refresh these batteries. That is an ageing squad that gave its all and is in dire want of a revamp to begin anew.
Lautaro Martinez clinging to Inter previous
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale celebrates with teammate Lautaro Martinez after scoring their workforce’s first objective throughout the Serie A TIM match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 09, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
Not everybody can see that, although, as Lautaro Martinez is clinging to an thought all of them go down with the ship. He’s serving to no one with , least of all of the membership, and the insults are solely unwarranted. It’s solely pure that Calhanoglu needs to affix Galatasaray, a membership he grew up supporting, and when he had greater than sufficient alternatives to take action.
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He crossed the divide from Milan to Inter without cost, revitalised his profession in a model new position, and helped the workforce win a number of trophies. What extra can they ask of him? It’s time to transfer on and make Inter barely much less predictable in its dependency on the Turkish midfielder.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 07: Hakan Calhanoglu (R) of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring their workforce’s first objective along with his team-mate Lautaro Martinez (L) throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 07, 2021 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
Lautaro Martinez thinks he’s defending Inter’s honour by lashing out at a teammate, however he wants to grasp that that is what fashionable soccer represents. The Argentine is now a real rarity in his steadfast dedication to the membership colors, and he should not anticipate others to be equally passionate once they haven’t been there so long as him.
Calhanoglu has each proper to desire a new expertise and hope an settlement might be reached. He has gone about this in a a lot classier manner than most would in his place. In his try to take a stand, Lautaro Martinez simply made all of it far tougher to make sure it’s an amicable parting.