Inter, for Calhanoglu distraction to the adductor: in doubt for the first leg with Benfica

The official press release from Inter, inspired by reasonable prudence, does not dispel the doubt: when will Hakan Calhanoglu be able to play again? The midfielder left the field in pain in the 38th minute of the first half of the match between his native Turkey and Croatia. The tests were carried out at the Humanitas institute in Rozzano, where the head of the Nerazzurri medical staff, Piero Volpi, is the head physician. The club’s note reads: “For the Nerazzurri midfielder, a muscle strain to the adductor of his right thigh. His condition will be re-evaluated in the next few days.”

Realistically, the 29-year-old ex Milan could be out of action for two or three weeks. It wouldn’t be a drama for Inter, were it not for the fact that in this month of April the team will have to play nine times, between the championship, the Italian Cup and the Champions League. A tour de force that in the first 21 days includes the San Siro match against Fiorentina on Saturday, the semi-final first leg of the Coppa Italia at the Juventus Stadium on the 4th of the month, the away match in Salerno in the league three days later, the first of the two meetings with Benfica for the quarter-finals of the Champions League in Lisbon on the 11th, Inter-Monza on the 15th and the return match with the Portuguese in Milan on the 19th.

In recent months, as a result of Brozovic’s long periods of injury, Calhanoglu had adapted to playing playmaker, relegating from midfielder to the edge of his own area. And he had done it very well, repeatedly winning awards as man of the match, especially in the Champions League. Now Inter will return to its basic structure. The Croatian, who is regaining full fitness after various muscle problems, will be joined in the typical formation by Barella and Mkhitaryan in the role of support / raiding setters. The alternatives are Gagliardini at midfielder, especially in the endgames where he can make the difference on the other balls, and Asllani, whom Inzaghi has always seen as a playmaker, but who has so far been employed very little.