Marotta: ‘Imaginary Calhanoglu’ offers from Fenerbahce and Galatasaray | OneFootball

Inter President Beppe Marotta poured cold water over fresh Hakan Calhanoglu speculation from Fenerbahce and Galatasaray. ‘It’s all in the media, these are imaginary’ offers.

The chief spoke to reporters this afternoon when attending a sponsorship event and was asked about reports the midfielder was pushing for a transfer to the Turkish Super Lig.

Calhanoglu in no rush to leave Inter

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 04: Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates with Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale after scoring their team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League group C match between FC Internazionale and FC Barcelona at San Siro Stadium on October 04, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I wouldn’t want this to become a situation when it really isn’t, out of respect both for the player and for Inter,” said Marotta.

“It’s all in the media, we are talking about imaginary requests that never actually arrive. There is no request, therefore there is nothing to consider and no answer to give.

“We are expecting him for pre-season training on July 23.”

Did Inter speak directly with Calhanoglu about beginning the new campaign?

“Of course, all the time. As with other players, he never manifested any desire to leave.”

epa11713695 Inter Milan�s Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates afer scoring the 1-1 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Inter and Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 10 November 2024. EPA-EFE/NICOLA MARFISI

The Turkish media continues to push the narrative that Calhanoglu would gladly accept a move to Galatasaray, a club he has supported since childhood, but only if Inter were to give the all-clear and agree on a transfer fee.

Marotta and Inter director Piero Ausilio already warned last week that the offer was nowhere near their asking price, so negotiations never really progressed at all.

Now Fenerbahce are seeing if they can convince the club and player, but again it seems to be played out in the media far more than with direct talks.