Inter star Hakan Calhanolgu has scored more goals than any other deep-lying playmaker in Europe’s top five leagues this season but has also recorded more shots and ground duels won.
The Nerazzurri star is playing a key role under Simone Inzaghi this season, having already scored seven goals in 17 league games this term.
Thursday’s printed edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, on page 10, has put together a few stats comparing his performances with those of other footballers playing in the same role across Europe.
It emerges that the 29-year-old has more goals, shots, and ground duels won than any other Regista in the Old Continent.
Gazzetta have compared Calhanoglu’s stats with those of Barcelona‘s Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Manchester City’s Rodri. The Spaniard has the highest passing accuracy and the most ball recoveries so far in 2023-24.
Former Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi has claimed Calhanoglu is among the top three Registas in the world, while Turkey boss Vincenzo Montella said in December that the Nerazzurri star ‘may be’ the best midfielder in the world currently.
Stats from La Gazzetta dello Sport
Appearances
Calhanoglu 17
Gundogan 18
Fernandez 16
Modric 15
Rodri 14
Pedri 8
Goals
Calhanoglu 7
Gundogan 2
Fernandez 2
Modric 1
Rodri 3
Pedri 1
Assists
Calhanoglu 3
Gundogan 3
Fernandez 0
Modric 4
Rodri 2
Pedri 0
Passing accuracy
Calhanoglu 92.3%
Gundogan 90.2%
Fernandez 88.2%
Modric 90.2%
Rodri 93.1%
Pedri 86.6%
Shots
Calhanoglu 33
Gundogan 21
Fernandez 30
Modric 13
Rodri 28
Pedri 9
Ground duels won
Calhanoglu 21
Gundogan 10
Fernandez 13
Modric 4
Rodri 18
Pedri 10
Ball recoveries
Calhanoglu 98
Gundogan 100
Fernandez 62
Modric 47
Rodri 101
Pedri 32