Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez begin peace talks after Club World Cup row

Thursday’s reports confirm that Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez have been in contact over the phone to clear the air after their public spat following Inter’s elimination from the FIFA Club World Cup, but the situation remains far from settled. 

What happened between Calhanoglu and Lautaro? 

Calhanoglu, who has been linked with a move to Galatasaray in his homeland, travelled with the Nerazzurri squad for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, but was unable to feature at the tournament through injury. 

However, following Inter’s elimination by Fluminense earlier this week, captain Lautaro hit out and appeared to aim a dig at his long-term teammate. 

Speaking after the team’s exit from the FIFA Club World Cup, Lautaro warned: “We have a clear message: anyone who wants to stay must stay, anyone who doesn’t want to stay here should leave.

“I am not going to name names. We are here to give our all, but I saw many things I did not like. I am captain, I am the leader of the group, so I have to speak up.

“The message is clear: those who want to stay and continue challenging for important trophies can do so, otherwise, goodbye.”

While Lautaro did not name any specific individuals, Inter President Beppe Marotta has hinted that he was, in fact, referencing Calhanoglu. 

In response, Calhanoglu issued a long, informal statement on Instagram, insisting that he has ‘never betrayed’ the club, but admitted: “What the future holds now, we’ll see.” 

Calhanoglu also added: “I respect every opinion, even from a teammate, even from the club President, but respect is not a one-way street.”

The back-and-forth between the two senior members of the Inter squad appears to have caused a rift within the dressing room, with Marcus Thuram among those to ‘like’ Calhanoglu’s post on Instagram, signalling where his loyalties are in the matter. 

Calhanoglu’s post was also liked by Simone Inzaghi’s wife and former Inter forward Marko Arnautovic. 

Lautaro and Calhanoglu peace talks 

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday, Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez have been in contact over the phone in an attempt to clear the air and share their views in a calmer and more private setting. 

The Pink Paper notes that new head coach Cristian Chivu remains in the middle of the situation as a mediator, and adds that it is not straight forward to brush a situation like this under the carpet. 

The fact that the spat between Calhanoglu and Lautaro has taken place during the off-season, with the transfer window open and Calhanoglu linked with a move away, has not helped the situation. 

As things stand, there are still no guarantees regarding Calhanoglu’s Inter future either way.