How Calhanoglu changes Milan?
Hakan Calhanoglu is one of the many signings in this summer transfer window but the Turkish trequartista is expected to be the one to influence Milan the most.
Those who know him well are aware that Hakan Calhanoglu’s qualities go way beyond the spectacular free kicks and accurate shots from outside the box. The Turkish 23 year old, one of the many AC Milan’s new purchases, is an element of absolute quality and extreme tactical ductility, something that should never be underestimated in today’s modern football.
The manager of the Turkish national team, Mircea Lucescu, recently praised the midfielder, considering him a true number 10, a fancy element that feels that jersey as his second skin, precisely for his extraordinary technical features. That’s why AC Milan could exploit them in the best of ways, revolutionizing in part their own way of playing by placing Calhanoglu in his favorite position, as a central trequartista behind the two centre forwards.
4-3-1-2 or 4-2-3-1 are formations that in the past manager Vincenzo Montella has already experimented with, but not in today’s Milan. With the further growth of Calhanoglu it can not be excluded that the Rossoneri may go back to playing with a real number 10 moving between the lines. Hints could immediately come from the two Europa League playoffs games.
Against Shkendija, the Turkish attacking midfielder could be deployed in the attacking trio alongside Suso and Andre Silva, starting as a left winger and centralizing during the game in order to play in a more lively position and be at center of the game. Calhanoglu can change the rossoneri’s tactical hierarchies awaiting to finally see the defense of three after the arrival of Leonardo Bonucci. Milan with 3-5-2 is more than a possibility.
The former Bayer Leverkusen arrived in San Siro for 22 million euros plus 3 in bonuses. He signed a 4 year contract inheriting the legendary number 10 from player like Roberto Baggio, Clarence Seedorf, Rui Costa, Dejan Savicevic, Ruud Gullit and Gianni Rivera. Te pressure is on but Calhanoglu has all the necessary qualities to live up to expectations and why not, even exceed them.