Calhanoglu: 'Inter and Real Madrid both strong teams'
Quick summary
Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Çalhanoglu acknowledged the strength of both sides ahead of Inter's fixture against Real Madrid, offering measured respect to the opposition.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceHakan Calhanoglu insists Real Madrid and Inter are both ‘strong sides with great individuals,’ and is pleased to reunite with old teammate Denzel Dumfries.
It kicks off at the Bernabeu in Madrid at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
The Nerazzurri won their first three Serie A matches of the campaign, including a comeback to beat Napoli 3-2 in stoppages, and now face a tricky trip to Spain for the Champions League opener.
Calhanoglu has faith in Inter Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates after scoring for Inter against Cagliari (@inter) “I feel good, we started the season well and hope to continue like this,” Calhanoglu told Inter TV and Sky Sport Italia.
“We know Real Madrid are a strong side with great individuals, but the same can be said of Inter. We’ve got to be united today, we know that we have to run, and with the maximum focus and concentration. We want to play our game, certainly better than last season, and we want to start well in the Champions League.”
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Inter fought back from 2-0 down for a thrilling 3-2 victory over Napoli in Serie A at the weekend, a sign of Cristian Chivu’s determination on the touchline.
“We showed the right mentality to never give in, to keep going to the very last minute, and we want to show that mentality even more this season,” assured Calhanoglu.
The roof will be closed this evening at the Bernabeu, following the renovation project at the iconic stadium.
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 08: Denzel Dumfries of Real Madrid interacts with a player of Internazionale before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) There were hugs during the pitch inspection between Denzel Dumfries and his former teammates, including Calhanoglu.
“It’s always nice to play here, just as it is at San Siro. We know Mourinho spent a lot of time in Serie A, he went to Spain this summer, but we’re happy to see Denzel too.”
The Inter social media channels joked about the Dumfries reputation of always looking grumpy in his photographs, noting they finally made him smile.
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What happened
Hakan Çalhanoglu, speaking ahead of a fixture between Inter and Real Madrid, described both clubs as strong teams. The Turkish midfielder, a key figure in Inter's midfield, offered a diplomatic assessment of the matchup. The comments come in the context of a high-profile encounter between the Serie A and La Liga powerhouses, with both teams competing at the top of European football. No specific tactical details, injury updates, or team news were provided in the quoted remarks.
Chance analysis
Çalhanoglu's comments reflect the pre-match calm expected from a senior midfielder ahead of a marquee European fixture. Acknowledging Real Madrid's quality is standard practice in elite football press, but it also signals Inter's confidence — they are not positioning themselves as underdogs. For Inter, having Çalhanoglu in form and speaking confidently is a quiet boost to morale heading into a defining test of their campaign against one of the continent's benchmark clubs.
No direct on-pitch impact; morale-positive but largely routine pre-match messaging from a key Inter player.