Inter Milan Star Earns Comparisons To Andrea Pirlo After Conversion To Deep-Lying Role

Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has earned comparisons to former Nerazzurri, AC Milan, and Juventus legend Andrea Pirlo.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, suggest that the 29-year-old has now fully undergone the same transition as last season, now that he is fully adapted to the role of deep-lying playmaker.

Calhanoglu would not be the first player to have started out as an attacking midfielder and then dropped deeper on the pitch.

However, the Turkish international has interpreted the role in a specific way.

Whilst, Calhanoglu has certainly added aggression and physicality to his defensive game to play the role, he has still tended to look like an attacking midfielder in the way that he plays.

The former AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder has not been content to simply circulate possession and set the tempo.

Rather, Calhanoglu has interpreted his role with a certain flair. The Turk’s quick feet and dribbling have meant that he hasn’t been afraid to get into risky one-on-one duels with the ball.

Moreover, Calhanoglu’s passing has been expansive and ambitious. The 29-year-old clearly looks to use his accurate long diagonal balls to find his wide players.

Hakan Calhanoglu Earns Andrea Pirlo Comparisons

Another player who wore both the Inter and Milan shirt, and made the transition from playing high up the pitch to deeper, was Andrea Pirlo.

Now Sampdoria coach, the former Italian international was one of the most accomplished midfielders of his generation.

Pirlo won acclaim for his level of proficiency at the base of Milan and Juventus’s midfield trios in particular. The Italian had a knack for playing his way out of trouble with the ball at his feet.

Whilst some deep-lying playmakers prefer to use quick movements and short-passes, Pirlo often played with the same style he had done as a more attack-minded players, but simply did so closer to his own.

Moreover, Pirlo was iconic for his pinpoint long balls.