Calhanoglu's Versatility Could Unlock New Attacking Potential for Inter

As of August 7th, 2025, Inter Milan is considering a surprise formation change under their new manager, Cristian Chivu. The Nerazzurri have played with a 3-5-2 formation for the last six years, but Chivu is now looking to keep the back three while reconfiguring the midfield and attack.

One key player who could enable this tactical shift is midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. According to reports, Chivu is exploring the possibility of deploying Calhanoglu in an attacking midfield role within a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 formation. This would provide Inter with more firepower upfront, as the team would have two attacking midfielders or wingers supporting the striker.

Chivu's efforts to switch to a more attacking system are further evidenced by Inter's pursuit of Ademola Lookman, which suggests the club is preparing for a formation change. However, the manager is likely to use the 3-4-2-1 primarily against weaker opposition or when chasing a result, as leaving three forwards up the pitch could be risky in tougher matches.

As an alternative, Chivu is also experimenting with a 3-4-1-2 system, which would allow for more connectivity between the midfield and attack while still ensuring numbers in the middle of the park. In recent friendly matches, new signing Luis Henrique has been deployed in the hole behind the strikers, but Calhanoglu's experience in the attacking midfield role could see him take up that mantle as well.