The disappointing performances of Hakan Calhanoglu are not affecting only AC Milan’s spot in the standings but also the harmony within the squad.
Calhanoglu desperately wanted. The real one, the one able to lead AC Milan with many assists and goals in the second part of last season. The performances of the Turkish winger this season have been underwhelming, to say the least. Rino Gattuso has defended him at the expense of logic but the Rossoneri’s number ten, reports Tuttosport, does not seem to have any intention of changing gear.
Calhanoglu is throwing the season away, despite Gattuso’s almost unconditional trust in him. Inexplicable trust considering the performances of the former Bayer Leverkusen, something that is starting to create some problems within the group. It seems, in fact, that not all have accepted the coach’s choice to wait so long for Hakan. Why play in ten? Why this insistence in wanting to send him on the pitch at all costs? According to Tuttosport, the squad has expressed a bit of a bad mood.
For his part, the player does not seem so determined in wanting to reverse the trend. The Calhanoglu seen on Sunday evening at the Olimpico is everything but a resource for Milan. The season is now at a crucial point and the fundamental games are coming that will decide the Champions League race. The Rossoneri can not afford to play them, in practice, with one man less.
The 24 year old left winger was close to joining RB Leipzig in January for 20 million euros but coach Gattuso blocked the move. After 20 Serie A appearances Hakan has yet to find the back of the net.