Calhanoglu sent off 35 minutes into Inter friendly match | OneFootball

Hakan Calhanoglu was sent off just 35 minutes into the friendly match between Inter and AS Monaco this evening.

The Nerazzurri had their first real pre-season test of the summer, having received extra time off following the FIFA Club World Cup participation.

Calhanoglu was given a starting role in the midfield and had looked immediately a little rusty, because he gave the ball away for AS Monaco to open the scoring just 80 seconds into the match.

Calhanoglu from bad to worse

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 08, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It didn’t get any better for the Turkey international, who spent most of the last couple of months dealing with controversy and speculation he wanted to leave Inter for a move to Galatasaray.

He was booked for a clumsy tackle in the middle of the park, then received a second yellow card at the 35th minute.

On this occasion, Calhanoglu seemed to stumble and slip, crashing into the on-rushing Vanderson as they both stretched to get to the ball.

It was a tense situation after the red card, with Cristian Chivu’s assistant manager Aleksandar Kolarov booked for dissent on the touchline.