Croatia & Italy Star Midfielders In Contention To Replace Turkey Captain In Inter Milan Vs Torino Serie A Opener | OneFootball

Petar Sucic and Nicolo Barella are the top candidates to take Hakan Calhanoglu’s place in when Inter Milan meet Torino.

According to Corriere dello Sport via FCInterNews, one of them will operate as a deep-lying playmaker in Inter’s opening league game.

Cristian Chivu will be unable to call upon Hakan Calhanoglu in his first Serie A game in charge of the Nerazzurri.

Indeed, the Turkish superstar must serve a one-game suspension, which threatens to open up a creative gap.

Sucic or Barella to Replace Calhanoglu in Inter Milan vs Torino

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 25: Nicolo Barella #23 of FC Internazionale Milano looks on prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and CA River Plate at Lumen Field on June 25, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Aware of Calhanoglu’s absence, Chivu has already tested Sucic in the role of a midfield metronome.

In addition to the Croat, the 44-year-old has also experimented with Kristjan Asllani and Piotr Zielinski in the role.

However, the former Dinamo Zagreb starlet is the front candidate to fill Calhanoglu’s shoes against Torino.

With Sucic set to replace the 31-year-old, Barella will be free to focus on his strengths.

Indeed, the diminutive star has excelled as a box-to-box midfielder, his primary position at San Siro.