According to Gazzetta dello Sport, recurring injuries to Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu are affecting prospects for a contract extension, with the club taking a wait-and-see approach.

One day, Calhanoglu plans to buy back his beloved Harley-Davidson. That will be the first pleasure he wants to enjoy after retirement. For now, he still has several years of professional career ahead of him, but at least for the moment, only one season remains before him—potentially his last at Inter Milan. Discussions regarding a contract extension for the Turkish midfielder have begun, but meaningful progress has yet to be made.

As it stands, he has just nine months remaining on his current deal with the Nerazzurri. Few obstacles remain unless both parties decide to continue together. Nothing has been ruled out, but one variable could influence all decisions regardless of both parties' intentions: injuries. Since joining Inter Milan, statistics show he has missed 38 matches over six seasons due to various injuries. This includes the two most recent matches he missed this season due to discomfort in his right adductor muscle, which is still recovering.

Calhanoglu's Importance

Missing 38 matches—equivalent to an entire season—makes this topic sensitive and important when discussing the Turkish player's future. In midfield, he plays as a deep playmaker and no coach has truly taken that role away from him, except for injuries. Today, he remains a key figure there, a midfielder in every sense of the word. For Chivu, as long as he is fit, he is an irreplaceable pillar, even though Inter Milan already has a mature alternative in Zielinski and two younger, promising options in Petar Sucic and Aleksandar Stankovic. But when Calhanoglu is absent, the impact is felt immediately. He started the season strongly: he was a starter against Monza and Cagliari, scoring in both matches, especially the crucial 1-0 winner against Cagliari. Then, against Napoli, he came off the bench for the final 20 minutes to stabilize midfield; he witnessed Thuram's two goals and the 3-2 comeback from close range, but hasn't played since. Inter Milan still achieved satisfactory results against Udinese and Roma, remaining unbeaten and topping the league after the first turning point, but this does not erase the physical concerns that emerged at the start of this season.

The Weight of Absences

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

Meanwhile, it will become clear how much this forced absence weighs against the Turkish player's desire to give everything for Inter Milan. All subsequent assessments will follow the data on the pitch, including the number of matches missed and their significance. If he eventually leaves as a free agent? That too would be a happy departure. In fact, the figures fans will remember are not the matches missed, nor the "zero" of a free agent departure. After all, that's how he joined from AC Milan in 2021. What will remain are the trophies. He has won eight, and by June, Calhanoglu hopes for more, regardless of what happens next.

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