Euro 2024 has now officially and definitively come to life. There will undoubtedly be many interesting challenges over the weekend, but the one that stands out is inevitably Türkiye-Portugal, scheduled today at 6pm. A match between two teams full of talent and ready to take center stage in this competition. And so, among the many long-distance and face-to-face duels, one cannot help but focus on the one between Calhanoglu and Bruno Fernandes.
Calhanoglu and his consecration in Serie A
Born in Germany in 1994, it is precisely in Teutonic land that his career takes shape. The good Hakan played for eight years in the youth team SV Waldhof Mannheim, his hometown club. At 15 he moved on to Karlsruhe and this is a fundamental stage for him. Maturation is then completed atHamburg, with which he made his Bundesliga debut in August 2013. And the numbers are all on his side: 32 games and 11 goals. Numbers that lead to the purchase of Bayer Leverkusen. And it is precisely here that Calhanoglu makes the definitive leap in quality. Match after match, he refines his qualities, his technique, his ball and chain skills and his ability to insert himself between the lines. 28 goals in 115 games earned him the call of the Milan.
The Rossoneri invest 22 million euros. Week after week he becomes a pillar becomes a pillar in the Rossoneri, especially with the arrival of Gattuso on the bench. After losing the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup finals, he is with Pegs who finds his perfect tactical position, that is, as an attacking midfielder in the 4-2-3-1. However, his performance is very often inconsistent and this leads to some inevitable criticism. In the 2020/2021 season he scored four goals and ten assists, but decided to say goodbye, moving toInter. Obviously the AC Milan fans can’t stomach this choice, but the Turk finds his consecration at the Nerazzurri. After the disappointment of the first season which ended with Milan’s scudetto, he redeemed himself in the following two, being the protagonist in winning the Champions League final and the scudetto. But it is precisely in the 2023/2024 season, that with the farewell of Brozovic and Lukaku, he becomes director, point of reference and penalty taker.
Bruno Fernandes, so much continuity
Also born in 1994, he took his first steps in Infesta, a Portuguese third category company. At 10 years old he joined the youth team Good view. In 2012 he arrived in Italy, more precisely at Novara. His first season ended with four goals. In the summer of 2013 came the call fromUdinese, always attentive to young talents. Her debut in Serie A was dated November 3, 2013 and shortly after her first goal also arrived. In Friuli, however, you are unable to play with too much continuity and this is why, in August 2016, you moved to Sampdoria. He manages to earn his place as a starter in a short time and score 5 goals. In short, Italian maturation is complete.
On June 27, 2017 it Sporting Lisbona invests, between fixed sum and bonus, 9 million. What is striking, however, is the release clause set at 100 million. At home he shows all his qualities, growing from season to season and becoming the midfielder with the most goals scored in European leagues in a single season (31). The rest is recent history and of a landing, dated 2020, at Manchester United. A deal worth 55 million euros plus 25 in bonuses. In a not too brilliant period for the Red Devils, becomes one of the few certainties. 79 networks were created, with quality and continuity always guaranteed.
But who is the strongest?
It’s worth trying to ask yourself who is stronger. To answer, we need to take stock of their adventures in their respective national teams. Since 2013, Calhanoglu has been a real fixed point, having played in the 2020 European Championships. Then, in 2022, he became captain. Over time, Bruno Fernandes has become a pillar of the Portuguese side, being the protagonist in the victory of the Nations League 2018-2019. However, both of them miss taking center stage in an important competition and this European Championship could be the right opportunity.
From a tactical point of view, the position and role of the two is very similar. In the last period, however, Hakan has stepped back his range of action, acting as a director. This showcased his quick thinking, his vision of the game and his ability to put teammates in a position to score. What continues to link him to the former Udinese player is his long-range shooting, his prolific scoring ability and his ability to take penalties. In short, so different and so the same. After all, they are two of the strongest midfielders of this generation.
2024-06-22 11:13:16
#stronger #Calhanoglu #Bruno #Fernandes
