Hakan Calhanoglu candidly shared his story in an interview on the YouTube channel Kafa Sports, recounting key moments of his career and his development at Inter. During the conversation, the Turkish midfielder revealed a surprising transfer market backstory that involved Juventus. The interview also touched upon the future of Turkish football, with Calhanoglu expressing great admiration for Kenan Yildiz, highlighting the young talent’s immense potential. His time with the Nerazzurri was also discussed, including a comparison between coaches Inzaghi and Chivu, his change in playing position, and other internal team dynamics.
Calhanoglu Praises Young Turkish Talents, Especially Yildiz
“My nomination for the Ballon d’Or was an unforgettable experience,” Calhanoglu recounted. “It’s an achievement I only watched on television as a child, admiring legends like Ronaldinho, Messi, and Ronaldo. Being there was truly special. I felt deeply emotional receiving messages of support from my family and significant people; they made me immensely proud. It’s gratifying to receive compliments from coaches and more experienced teammates I’ve had the pleasure of working with. They’ve known me since I first joined the national team. Figures like Burak and Emre… I will never forget them. They played a crucial role in helping me reach the captain’s position I hold today. They constantly told me: ‘One day you will become the captain of this team. Your moment will come, and the responsibility of this team will be yours.’ When that day arrived, I was deeply moved. I wondered: can I live up to it? Can I handle this great responsibility? Ultimately, you represent your nation, a significant burden. It’s normal to have these questions.” The midfielder then went on to praise young talents, focusing on Yildiz: “Among current Turkish footballers, who has the ability to reach or surpass my level? I point to Kenan and Arda. One wears the Real Madrid jersey, the other is Juventus’s number 10. Both possess immense potential. Can Uzun, after his experience at Eintracht, will also need to take a significant step to elevate to that level. But all of them are very young and have a brilliant future ahead.”
