"I score goals, others don’t" - When Hakan Calhanoglu rated himself above Rodri and Enzo Fernandez in best playmaker list
Hakan Calhanoglu claimed he is the best playmaker in world football in an interview with DAZN earlier this year. The Turkish star was asked to rank among himself, Rodri, Enzo Fernandez, Toni Kroos, and Joshua Kimmich.
Calhonoglu played as an attacking midfielder for AC Milan. However, since his move to Inter, the Turk was handed a deeper role as the playmaker. Speaking of himself, he told DAZN:
"Months ago, I said I was among the best regista in the world, and no one believed me. I always believe in myself, I know my qualities and I am not afraid of anyone."
He was then asked to rank the five aforementioned names, to which he replied:
"Fifth Enzo Fernandez, fourth Kimmich, third Kroos, second Rodri, and first Calhanoglu."
When asked to explain the decision to put himself atop the list, Calhanoglu said:
"I score goals and do what others don't. If you check, I never score from close range but from 25-20 meters out or from a free-kick. These are difficult things, and if you look, the others don't do it like me."
Calhanoglu further claimed:
"Then everyone is good at passing, but I don't like playing passes five meters away. I always look for the final pass, to increase the possibility of scoring. Giving it to the right or left doesn't help me."
Hakan Calhanoglu is a very technical player. He can score outrageously long shots and find the back of the net from free kicks virtually anywhere in the final third.
How did Hakan Calhanoglu perform in 2023-24?
Hakan Calhanoglu was crucial during the 2023-24 season, helping Inter Milan win the Serie A title. He scored 15 goals and provided three assists in 40 appearances across competitions last season.
Calhanoglu netted 13 times in the Serie A last term. He has so far made 135 appearances for Inter, scoring 27 goals and providing 24 assists. Before his 2021 switch, Calhanoglu was at AC Milan.
He played a more advanced role for the Rosonneri and his stats show that. Calhanoglu scored 32 goals and provided 48 assists in 172 appearances for Milan.
Apart from the two San Siro clubs, Calhanoglu has also played for Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen, among other clubs, for significant phases during his career.