Buruk opens up on Calhanoglu attempt: ‘We would have had to spend €45m’ | OneFootball

Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has revealed that his side made ‘another attempt last week’ to sign Hakan Calhanoglu from Inter, but claims that it would have cost €40m-€45m to sign the Turkey international this summer.

Calhanoglu had been linked with a move away from San Siro at various stages of the summer transfer window. There had been links with a move to his native Turkey, specifically to Galatasaray, who were on the lookout for a new central midfielder.

In the end, Galatasaray struck a deal for Ilkay Gundogan instead, and it now appears unlikely that Calhanoglu leaves Inter before the close of the transfer window in Turkey, which will still be open until September 12.

Buruk: Galatasaray tried again for Calhanoglu, would have cost €45m

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 11: Hakan Calhanoglu #20 of FC Internazionale Milano after disembarking at Los Angeles International Airport for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on June 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Speaking in a recent interview with Now Spor, Buruk revealed how close Galatasaray were to securing a deal for Inter’s Calhanoglu. “Hakan was a player we seriously wanted,” Buruk said (via fcinternews.it). “He’s a big fan of Galatasaray. He made a big statement about making a sacrifice in the future.

“We made another attempt last week, but Inter said they weren’t willing to sell him. They said they would do it if we offered a much higher price than normal. We gave it a go.”

Buruk went on to reveal that Calhanoglu was prepared to lower his salary demands in order to join Galatasaray, but the negotiations with Inter was where the issue lay.

epa12006063 Inter Milan’s midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates scoring the equalizer during the Italian Cup semi final first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, 02 April 2025. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

“Ilkay (Gundogan) sacrificed his salary, and Hakan would have done the same, but his club had very high expectations,” Buruk claimed.

“If Inter had sold him to us, we would have had to spend around €40m-€45m. He’s an important player, that’s why a deal for him was difficult for us.

“There was another attempt last week. Hakan made sacrifices, but Inter said they didn’t want the transfer to happen. The reason why it didn’t happen is because Inter didn’t want to sell him and I don’t think anything will change.”