Hakan Calhanoglu is some player.
The 23-year-old playmaker has fine passing range and wonderful vision, and has previously been likened to Mesut Ozil in terms of his style of play and technique. He also happens to be one of the best set-piece specialists in the world.
Perhaps not since famed Brazilian maestro Juninho Pernambucano has a player been so unerringly accurate from any deadball scenario. Indeed Calhanoglu is only behind Andreas Pirlo in the Fifa 17 rankings for best freekick takers.
It’s easy to see why:
😬 5 free kicks
👌 5 pearlersNot many people strike a dead ball like Hakan Calhanoglu…🙌 pic.twitter.com/Qy6s5v23E0
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 29, 2017
The likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have all been linked to big money swoops for the Turkey international in recent seasons, but it is money bags Milan who have swooped for the player in a €20m deal.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu has completed his medical at AC Milan ahead of a €20m move. Official confirmation expected shortly. (Source: @acmilan) pic.twitter.com/yV0srgkKFD
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) July 3, 2017
The (now former)Â Bayer 04 Leverkusen man was all smiles in Italy as the deal was finally confirmed and he was able to don his new club’s garb, but eagle-eyed folk may have noticed something remarkable about the player’s appearance.
If you’ve not already noticed, the playmaker’s ears appear to be upside down. We shit you not – have a closer look:
Psst. Spurs target Hakan Calhanoglu has upside-down ears. Pass it on. pic.twitter.com/jpCbteeOb7
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) August 24, 2016
Is this the real secret to his amazing set-piece abilities? Does it allow him to keep his ear to the ground and work to a different frequency to us mere mortals? He’s like a real-life X-Man.
