Inter, Hakan Calhanoglu reacts harshly to the words of Lautaro Martinez and Beppe Marotta
After the words of Lautaro Martinez, although he had not explicitly called him out, and those of Beppe Marotta, who instead directly mentioned his name, Hakan Calanhoglu decided to entrust his thoughts to his official social profiles, reacting with rather harsh words to the criticism that has come to him in the last few hours, amplified by Inter’s elimination from the World Club Championship.
“After the injury in the Champions League final, we still decided that I would leave with the team for the United States – he began -. Being there, even without being able to take the field, was important for me. I wanted to be close to the group, to give my support. Unfortunately, during a training session in the US, I suffered another injury, in a different area. The diagnosis was clear: a muscle tear”.
“That is why I could not play in this competition. That’s all there is to it. No backstory – added the Turkish national -. Yesterday we lost. And it hurts. I experienced it with sadness, not only as a footballer, but as a person who really cares about this team. Despite the injury, right after the final whistle I called some teammates to make my support felt. Because when you care, that”s what you do.
Then the crux of the matter: “What struck me most, though, were the words that came afterwards. Harsh words. Words that divide, not unite. Throughout my career I have never sought an apology. I have always taken responsibility. I have also played with pain. And in difficult times, I have always tried to be a point of reference. Not with words, but with deeds”.
“I respect every opinion, even that of a teammate, even that of the president– continued Calhanoglu -But respect cannot be a one-way street. I have always shown it, on and off the field. And I believe that in soccer, as in life, the real strength lies in knowing how to respect each other, especially in the most delicate moments”.
“I have never betrayed this jersey – he said again -I have never said I am not happy at Inter. In the past I received offers, even very important ones. But I chose to stay. Because I know what this jersey represents for me. And I thought my choices spoke for themselves. I had the honor of being the captain of my national team. And there I learned that the real leader is the one who stands by his teammates, not the one who looks for a culprit when it”s easier to do so.
“I love this sport. I love this club. And I love these colors, for which I have given everything every day. The future? We will see. But history will always remember those who stood. Not the one who raised his voice the most” concluded the Nerazzurri midfielder, who arrived at Inter in the’summer of 2021 upon the expiration of the previous contract that had tied him to Milan from 2017 to the next four seasons.
