Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta has expressed strong confidence that midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu will remain at San Siro, despite persistent speculation linking him with a transfer to Turkish champions Galatasaray.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Serie A League Assembly, as reported by FCInter1908, Marotta directly addressed the swirling rumors surrounding Çalhanoğlu’s future.
The 31-year-old Turkish international has indeed emerged as a concrete target for Galatasaray, and the player himself has not publicly dismissed these links, which has fueled optimism within the Turkish club.
READ: Galatasaray Considers Chelsea Striker as Osimhen Alternative in Ambitious Transfer Strategy
However, Inter considers Çalhanoğlu a highly valuable first-team asset. Consequently, they have placed a significant €35 million price tag on the midfielder. In contrast, Galatasaray has reportedly been unwilling to offer more than €10 million, leading to stalled negotiations between the two clubs and bolstering Inter’s chances of retaining their star player.
When asked for an update on Çalhanoğlu’s situation, Marotta’s response was unequivocal: “No, he’s fully our player, so he’ll be back as soon as he’s called up.”
Inter’s Transfer Window Activity
Marotta also touched on other aspects of Inter’s transfer dealings. He confirmed the club’s interest in Parma starlet Giovanni Leoni, a talent also reportedly coveted by Liverpool and valued at a substantial €40 million. “He’s a good talent, but he belongs to Parma, not us,” Marotta stated, acknowledging the high valuation.
In addition to potential incoming transfers, Inter is actively working on several player departures. Valentin Carboni is reportedly on the verge of joining Genoa on a season-long loan without a buyout option. “Yes, the destination is right, with a great coach like Vieira,” Marotta confirmed, referring to Genoa’s coach Patrick Vieira.
Similarly, striker Sebastiano Esposito, 23, appears to be on his way out, with a permanent transfer possible and Fiorentina and Cagliari among the interested clubs. “We’ll see, we’ll see, soon, very soon,” Marotta vaguely confirmed.
Finally, the Inter chief offered an optimistic outlook on the club’s immediate future. “Maximum optimism, absolutely,” he claimed. “We are Inter, so we must always look to the future with great optimism.”
