Çalhanoğlu sheds light on his future: Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Lautaro and more...

Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the influential Turkish midfielder, has made his intentions clear, declaring himself "an Inter player" who "wants to continue here" as he rejoined the club for the start of pre-season training. Speaking to the Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Bayer Leverkusen man also addressed the previously reported tension within the squad earlier in the summer, specifically his falling out with captain Lautaro Martinez. "We talked – we are professionals, there’s no problem. When the captain comes back, I’ll give him a hug, and that’s it," Çalhanoğlu revealed, signaling a swift and amicable resolution.

Çalhanoğlu happy at Inter but eyes future

In recent weeks, Çalhanoğlu had been heavily linked with a sensational move to the Turkish Süper Lig. Initially, Galatasaray was widely considered the favorite to sign the Turkish international. However, their ongoing and complex negotiations with Napoli for Victor Osimhen appear to be consuming their resources and attention, seemingly keeping their hands full for now.

Then, late last week, José Mourinho's Fenerbahçe emerged as a strong contender for Çalhanoğlu's signature. Reports from Italy even claimed that the Istanbul club was prepared to offer the Inter star the captain's armband if he chose to leave Italy for Turkey.

Addressing the flurry of speculation, Çalhanoğlu explained his silence. "Every year there are transfer rumors, in this case maybe a few more, but I did not say anything because I wanted our fans to see for themselves that I am back – it is not always right to make statements."

When asked about the possibility of a contract renewal, he adopted a wait-and-see approach: "Let’s wait and see what happens over the years. But my goal is to win here." This nuanced response suggests a strong present commitment while leaving the door ajar for future possibilities.

Çalhanoğlu, now 31, has been a central figure for the Nerazzurri since his arrival on a free transfer from fierce rivals AC Milan in 2021. Last season, the experienced midfielder was virtually ever-present, featuring in 47 games across all competitions. His consistent contributions saw him net eleven goals and provide an additional eight assists, underscoring his continued importance to the Inter squad.