Calhanoglu injured: Asllani ready to step up in Inter’s trip at Verona | OneFootball

With Hakan Calhanoglu ruled out of Inter’s trip to Verona as a precaution, Kristjan Asllani claimed he’s ready to replace the Turkish midfielder in Simone Inzaghi’s midfield, as he feels he’s ‘grown a lot’.

Calhanoglu sustained a slight injury during the international break with Türkiye, and while initial medical tests didn’t highlight any lesion, the Nerazzurri will opt to rest the midfielder, hoping to get him fully fit for their Champions League clash against Leipzig next week.

epa11713695 Inter Milan�s Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates afer scoring the 1-1 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Inter and Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 10 November 2024. EPA-EFE/NICOLA MARFISI

Inzaghi has already deployed both Nicolò Barella and Piotr Zielinski as playmakers recently in the absence of Calhanoglu, but Asllani is considered his natural replacement and feels ready to take his place back after having also been sidelined due to a physical problem.

Asllani ready to ‘make the most’ of Calhanoglu’s absence in Verona-Inter

“If Calhanoglu is out, I honestly don’t know if it’s up to me,” Asllani told SportMediaset after playing the entire match for Albania in the Nations League against Ukraine, as reported by TMW.

“Do I feel ready? I’ve always said it—I feel I’ve grown a lot.

“Whatever playing time I’m given, even 20 minutes, I try to make the most of it. After all, I’m only 22.

“The difference in my role between Inter and Albania? It’s not that different. I can play all midfield roles, but I’ve always been a playmaker in front of the defence, and I prefer that position.

MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 15: Milan Djuric of AC Monza competes for the ball with Kristjan Asllani and Stefan De Vrij of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between AC Monza and FC Internazionale at U-Power Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Serie A or Champions League? If you’re Inter, the goal is to secure trophies—you have to win. We want to win the Scudetto again but also be key players in the Champions League.”

Tuttomercatoweb also reported that Inter are willing to make Calhanoglu undergo further exams to know the exact entity of his injury.