Internazionale midfielder Calhanoglu's recurring injuries are casting doubt on his contract extension prospects, with the club taking a cautious approach, according to Milanese media.

Someday, Calhanoglu will buy back his beloved Harley Davidson—a pleasure he wants to enjoy after retirement. For now, he still has several years ahead of him, but in the immediate term, only one season remains: potentially his last at Internazionale. Contract extension discussions with the Turkish midfielder have begun but have not progressed significantly.

He is now just nine months away from the end of his contract with the Nerazzurri. Only a few matches remain unless both sides agree to continue together. Nothing has been ruled out, though one factor could influence all decisions regardless of the parties' intentions: injuries. Since joining Internazionale, Calhanoglu has missed 38 games over six seasons due to various injuries. This includes the last two matches this season due to discomfort in his right adductor muscle, from which he is still recovering.

Calhanoglu's Importance

Missing 38 games—equivalent to an entire season—makes this a critical consideration when discussing the Turk's future. In his deep-lying playmaker role, he has been a fixture in every manager's midfield plans, with injuries being his only real obstacle. He remains a key figure in that position and an indispensable central midfielder for Simone Inzaghi. As long as he is fit, he is irreplaceable, even though Internazionale has mature alternatives in Zielinski and promising younger options in Petar Sucic and Aleksandar Stankovic. However, Calhanoglu's absences immediately impact the team's performance. He started this season strongly: he played against Monza and Cagliari, scoring in both matches—notably the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Cagliari. He came off the bench for the final 20 minutes against Napoli, orchestrating the midfield as the Thuram brothers scored twice in a 3-2 comeback, but has not played since. Internazionale still achieved satisfactory results against Udinese and Roma, remaining unbeaten and topping the league after the opening phase, but this does not diminish the physical concerns that emerged early this season.

The Impact of His Absence

In early August in Perth, Calhanoglu told Gazzetta dello Sport: "The future does not depend on me, but on the club." He added that there had been no contact regarding an extension at that time. Nearly two months later, the situation remains unchanged. Although his contract expires on June 30, 2027, there is no immediate urgency, and discussions about the future will likely resume in a few months.

In the meantime, it will become clear whether these forced absences will outweigh the Turk's commitment to Internazionale. All subsequent judgments will be based on on-field performance, including the number of missed games and their significance. If he eventually leaves on a free transfer, it would still be a departure on good terms. After all, the numbers fans will remember are not his injury absences or a free transfer exit—that's how he arrived from AC Milan in 2021. What will endure are the trophies. He has already won eight, and by June, Calhanoglu hopes to add more, regardless of what comes next.

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