Calhanoglu leaves Tϋrkiye squad before Inter vs. Milan derby

Hakan Calhanoglu will not be part of the Tϋrkiye national team squad to take on Spain in World Cup qualification on Tuesday evening, as he is set to return to Italy and join up with Cristian Chivu and the rest of the Inter squad ahead of Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina against Milan. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Calhanoglu has a minor issue with his hand, although this is not a major cause for concern and it has been reported that there have already been discussions between the Nerazzurri medical team and their Turkish counterparts. 

According to Monday’s report, the situation is ‘under control’ and Calhanoglu is not currently a doubt for the derby against Milan in San Siro on Sunday. 

Chivu and the Inter squad will get back to work on Tuesday, and Calhanoglu is expected to be among those on the training pitch at Appiano Gentile. 

His absence from the Tϋrkiye squad is not a major issue either, given that they are effectively guaranteed to finish their World Cup qualifying group in second place, meaning a spot in the play-offs. 

Like Italy before Sunday’s game against Norway, there is still a mathematical possibility that Tϋrkiye overtake Spain into first place, but again, this would require an enormous and improbable swing on goal difference against a Spanish side that have a 100% win record and have not conceded in the qualifying campaign so far.