HomeSportsFootballTürkiye pin Euro hopes on Çalhanoğlu, despite home turf criticism

Türkiye pin Euro hopes on Çalhanoğlu, despite home turf criticism

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As the Turkish Crescent-Stars put together for Euro 2024, their hopes are pinned on captain and playmaker Hakan Çalhanoğlu, recent from successful his first Serie A title with Inter Milan.

Çalhanoğlu’s influence on Türkiye’s qualifying marketing campaign has been profound, together with his evolution right into a deep-lying playmaker including a dynamic edge to his sport.

Born in Mannheim, the $43 million-rated Çalhanoğlu is amongst a choose group of German-born footballers with Turkish roots to don the Crescent Stars jersey.

“When I chose the (Turkish) national team, I chose without hesitation. I always wanted to overcome challenges,” he stated in an interview with state broadcaster TRT in May.

“They told me, ‘If you choose Germany, you’ll make bigger transfers and win bigger trophies.’ I said, ‘No, I want to do this with the Turkish jersey, I want to achieve harder things.'”

But whereas he has earned rave opinions for his performances in Italy, Çalhanoğlu has been on the receiving finish of harsh criticism at house.

“Our people still think of the old Hakan as a No. 10. I’m not in that position anymore,” he defined.

“There’s now a Hakan who performs behind, who orchestrates the sport, and there is a Hakan who fights, who will get into duels. These issues weren’t in me earlier than.

“Actually, what saddens me is that this: I play overseas, everybody helps me there, they see me as certainly one of their very own. But after I come to my very own nation, I really feel excluded.

“Sometimes when I read comments, it hurts me. When negative criticism comes from my own people, from my own blood, one can’t help but feel sad.”

Türkiye coach Vincenzo Montella, who beforehand coached Çalhanoğlu throughout his tenure at AC Milan, stated the participant is among the many finest on the earth.

“He is a great talent with excellent technique,” Montella stated. “In recent years, he’s become the best midfielder in the world – or at least one of the very best.”

Montella emphasised Çalhanoğlu’s means to dictate the tempo of the staff and his understanding of the nuances of the sport.

“He understands the moments in a match,” the Türkiye coach stated.

“He’s now become a mature, modern footballer, because he is very happy to participate in both phases of play, and also interprets that game very well.”

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