Rarely do players cross a divide as bitter as the Inter-Milan one, but that's what Turkish playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu looks set to do. The 27-year-old has been embroiled in a transfer saga due to his contract issue with the Rossoneri, and after weeks of being linked with a move abroad, he has now reportedly agreed to join none other than the Nerazzurri.
This is according to Sky Italia, with their report claiming that the former Bayer Leverkusen ace has put pen to paper on a three-year deal. If true, this is a move that will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of AC Milan fans.
Furthermore, this would be a Bosman transfer, making things all the more worse for the Rossoneri – losing a key player to a rival is one thing; losing him for free is another. The Turkish ace has run down his contract at the San Siro and will leave for nothing after turning down an extension from the Red and Blacks.
Goal claim that he was offered $4.8M plus bonuses worth $600,000. However, despite showing disinterest in AC Milan's new terms, which were made back in January, the Italian giants decided not to raise their offer. He now looks set to pocket $6M plus $1.2M in bonuses at Inter Milan.
This deal makes tons of sense for the Scudetto champions. Calhanoglu provided 10 assists and scored four goals for the Rossoneri to help them finish as runners-up and mark their return to the UEFA Champions League. Furthermore, with their being uncertainty as to whether Christian Eriksen will be cleared to play football in Italy after suffering cardiac arrest, it was important to bring in a playmaker with Serie A experience.
Calhanoglu will reportedly undergo a medical on Tuesday after his nation's early exit from the Euro 2020. Despite being seen as the dark horse, the Turkish national team failed to pick up a single point in the group stage of the ongoing European Championship, losing to Italy, Wales, and most recently Switzerland to bow out of the tournament.
