Hakan Calhanoglu’s season has already carried two contrasting themes: two goals across Inter’s opening two league rounds, and another injury interruption that has placed recovery ahead of every discussion about his future. With his contract due to expire on 30 June, the midfielder remains central to both Chivu’s immediate plans and the club’s longer-term calculations.
Recovery takes priority at Appiano Gentile
Calhanoglu has used the international break to continue his work at Appiano Gentile rather than fully taking up the week of rest offered by Chivu. Benjamin Pavard has recently joined him on a Vogue runway, but Inter’s concern is understandably with the Turkish international’s return to the pitch.
The midfielder has been training alongside fellow injured players Spence and Stones, with the aim of returning in condition once the national-team pause is over. His target is Inter’s home match against Parma at San Siro on Saturday 10 October, when he is expected to be available to Chivu again.
- Calhanoglu scored twice in Inter’s first two Serie A matchdays.
- He is currently recovering from his latest physical problem.
- He has remained at Appiano Gentile during the break to accelerate his return.
- The Parma fixture is the likely point for his return to the squad.
An important player facing a familiar concern
There is no argument over Calhanoglu’s value to Inter, but his recent injury record is part of the wider picture around his position at the club. Physical setbacks have repeatedly affected his continuity over the past three seasons.
- During 2024-25, he was forced to miss around 12 matches.
- He also had injury absences last season.
- In the current league campaign, he has already missed two of Inter’s first five fixtures.
That sequence has inevitably influenced his form at times, even if it has not diminished the regard for his contribution. For now, the priority is not a negotiation table but restoring the midfielder to fitness and giving Chivu another experienced option for the next stage of the championship.
A contract decision still to come
Calhanoglu’s deal runs until 30 June and no renewal agreement has yet been reached. That leaves every possibility open, particularly as the contract moves closer to its end.
Interest from Turkey has become a recurring part of each summer around the player. Fenerbahce and Galatasaray have both been mentioned among the clubs willing to offer him a lucrative contract, although neither has met Inter’s valuation in previous approaches.
The balance could change if Calhanoglu reaches the final months of his agreement, or eventually becomes available without a transfer fee. At present, however, neither departure nor renewal has been settled. Inter and the player have time to address the future, while the immediate task is simpler: return from injury and resume a season that had begun with goals.
