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Hakan Calhanoglu is one of the ongoing debates for fans and the AC Milan management. Today, let’s take an unbiased look into what he adds to the team, and if it is right to meet his demands, or possibly lose him for free at the end of his contract.
Stats Overview: Serie A contributions this season:
24 Appearances
2 Goals
9 Assists
Hakan Calhanoglu has scored against Lazio and Fiorentina in Milan wins, where his goals would have been crucial to getting the 3 points.
His assists have mainly come against smaller sides, with Spezia x 1, Roma x 1, Parma x 1, Genoa x 1, Sassuolo x 1, Lazio x 2, and Crotone x 2. From these 7 games, Milan has not lost once, with 4 wins and 3 draws in total.
Generally speaking for assists and goals, he has performed well in games where Milan should win, and stepped up in 2 more difficult matches facing both Roma and Lazio. Unfortunately in the season to date, he has struggled to make a positive impact against any current top 5 sides: Juventus, Inter, Napoli and Atalanta.
Taking his form against top sides into account, you can understand why management would be reluctant to give him a world-class salary, struggling to meet a reported 7 million demand.
Is Hakan Calhanoglu worth keeping?
As a good player who can occasionally make a difference, work hard and provide the team with quality going forward, ideally Milan will find a solution to get him to stay. Losing him for free, would be a significant loss for the club, as he would likely have suitors willing to pay between 20-40 million Euro.
Goals and assists aren’t everything needed to justify why or why not he should get the contract he wants, however, for an attacking midfielder, surely they have some importance.
What do you think?
Let us know in the comments below.