Inter rocked by Hakan Çalhanoğlu Lautaro feud: Emergency meeting!

Reports from Italy indicate that Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu convened an urgent meeting with his players in Charlotte, USA, following a heated public dispute between team captain Lautaro Martinez and influential midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. The internal friction comes at a critical time as the club prepares for the upcoming season.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the emergency meeting was called by Chivu himself. His primary objective was to reinforce the message of unity, stressing that the team must remain cohesive and aligned as they embark on preparations for the new campaign in a few weeks. It's reported that key figures within the Nerazzurri dressing room shared their perspectives on the challenging situation, and Chivu's decision to address the matter directly was reportedly well-received by the squad.

The tension within Inter's ranks was underscored by Calhanoglu's absence from the meeting. The Turkish midfielder had already returned to Europe with other injured players just hours before Inter's 2-0 defeat to Fluminense in the Club World Cup Round of 16. Further highlighting the discord, Marcus Thuram notably "liked" Calhanoglu's Instagram post on Monday, in which the Turkish international fired back at Lautaro Martinez. In his post, Calhanoglu stated that the captain's words "hit hard" but were ultimately "divisive," publicly airing the disagreements within the squad.

Chivu's swift action underscores the seriousness of the dispute, as Inter aims to resolve any internal divisions before the intensity of a new season begins.