Hakan Çalhanoğlu reveals he feels alienated in Turkey!

Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who plays for Inter, the team that secured the championship in Serie A this season, made statements regarding his football life in Italy, the National Team, EURO 2024, and his favorite team, Galatasaray. Here are the statements made by Hakan to TRT Spor:

"I AM THE TURKISH PLAYER WITH THE MOST APPEARANCES IN ITALY"

"A dream has come true; I am very happy to have won the championship for the first time in 7 years. I had been waiting for this trophy for a long time. As a team, as the entire Inter family, this was very important for us this year. We are very happy to have earned the second star on our jerseys. This has great significance for us. I chose the number 20 jersey back then, representing 10+10. Actually, that was the goal; to celebrate the 20th championship. Of course, now everyone says 'number 20, 20th championship,' taking them together. It's actually a beautiful thing. My goal has always been to represent Turkey in the best way possible. I think I am currently the Turkish player with the most appearances in Italy."

"THERE IS NEVER ANY JEALOUSY AMONG US"

"It's not just me; Arda Güler, Yunus Akgün, and Kenan Yıldız also lifted trophies this season. Two Turks will play in the Champions League final, Salih Özcan and Arda Güler. One of them will lift the trophy. A Turkish player will win the Champions League. I am very happy. May the best one win. Of course, we will be happy. Both are our brothers. There is never any jealousy among us. I wish them both success from the bottom of my heart. Being in that final is something else entirely."

"WE WANT TO MAKE OUR NATION HAPPY"

"This will be my third European Championship. The first two tournaments didn't go very well. I hope the third one will be the best of them all. It is very important to me. Because this year, with my good performance and desire, we want to prove something in the tournament together with my teammates. Not just me, but my other friends also won trophies. This is very important for us. If we can channel this motivation into the team, it would be very good for us. We need to work very hard. We want to make our nation happy. We will do our best."

"I THINK I AM THE BEST IN THE POSITION I PLAY"

"I see myself as the best in this position. Of course, players like Rodri and Kroos are very important, players who have won the Champions League. That is the only thing I am missing right now. But other than that, I don't think I am far from them. This is my opinion. That's how I feel. I have developed myself in this position. Thanks to Simone Inzaghi, he saw me in that position. After Brozovic left, I took on that role and I am happy. I am still developing even further."

"I FEEL ALIENATED WHEN I COME TO MY OWN COUNTRY"

"Our nation still thinks of the old Hakan as a number 10. I am no longer in that position. There is a Hakan who builds the game from the back, manages the game, and a Hakan who fights and engages in duels. I didn't have these before. Actually, what saddens me is this: I play abroad, and everyone there embraces me and sees me as one of their own. When I come to my own country, I feel alienated. Sometimes my heart aches when I read the comments. When negative criticism comes from your own nation, from your own blood, one inevitably feels sad. When I chose the National Team, I chose it without hesitation. There are players who think about it, and there are those who don't. I always wanted to achieve the difficult. They told me, 'If you choose Germany, you will make bigger transfers and win bigger trophies.' I said, 'No, I want to do this with the National Team jersey, I want to achieve the difficult.' This Turkish flag is very precious to me. I want them to know how much I love Turkey and how attached I am to my nation. I always play Turkish songs even in the locker room. I never forget where I come from. I always try to show our colors."

News Source: 12punto