Calhanoglu can expect more Turkish delight than Gundogan at Champions League final

The captain of the favourites for Saturday’s European Champions League final will not quite be the favourite skipper taking part, at least when it comes to the citizens of Istanbul.

Loved though Ilkay Gundogan is by supporters of Manchester City, appreciated as he is by neutrals who recognise a superb footballer and an inspiring leader, there are tens of millions of Turks who prefer the pass-master of Internazionale’s midfield.

Hakan Calhanoglu is Turkey’s captain, you see, wearer of the armband for the national team, and, for that, a touchstone for what will be significant local presence in the grandstands at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

“Turkish fans will be divided,” says Simone Inzaghi, the Inter head coach, “some for Hakan, some for Ilkay.”

A few more, though, lean towards the player who, given the choice, decided to represent Turkey rather than the one who elected, instead of Turkey, to play for his country of birth.

Calhanoglu, 29, and Gundogan, 32, have followed parallel paths to this, the match that will give one of them the greatest prize yet of their careers.

They are both natives of Germany, born to families who moved there from Turkey for work.

Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan lifts the FA Cup after their victory against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2023. AP

Their careers took off with Ruhr clubs, Bayer Leverkusen in the case of Calhanoglu and Borussia Dortmund for Gundogan. By then, they had diverged internationally.

Calhanoglu committed to Turkey, despite interest in him from the German Football Federation, from his early teens. Gundogan, courted by Turkey, said yes to Germany, with whom, but for injury, he would have travelled to the 2014 World Cup and finished with a