Italian Media Highlight Midfield Battle Between Ex AC Milan Man & Young Italy Star In Torino Vs Inter Milan Serie A Clash

The midfielder battle between Samuele Ricci and Hakan Calhanoglu could be crucial in this evening’s Serie A match between Torino and Inter Milan.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Both of Inter and Torino are teams who tend to like to be proactive and dictate their own tempo of play.

Neither of the Nerazzurri or the Granata are content to just sit back and wait for space on the counterattack.

Therefore, both teams are very reliant on their midfielders to get a foothold in matches. And each of the pair have one player in particular who tends to set the tone for them.

Ricci & Calhanoglu A Key Battle In Torino Vs Inter Milan Clash

For home side Torino, former Empoli midfielder Ricci is that player.

The 22-year-old has grown in importance for the Piedmontese team has grown virtually with each week since he arrived in January of 2022.

Ricci has also started to gain recognition at international level as well.

He has received two call-ups for Italy so far.

Ricci began life as more of an attacking midfielder for Empoli. But it was coach Aurelio Andreazzoli who recognized the young midfielder’s ability to adapt to a deeper role.

Therefore, Ricci impressed in terms of how he could dictate the play from deep for Empoli.

This is what earned the Italian his move to Torino.

And it has only been an improvement from there. Ricci has learned the Granata’s tactical system and fit in well.

It is the 22-year-old who tries to get on the ball most and determine how the midfield battle goes.

It is a player with more experience on the other side of the pitch.

29-year-old former Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan midfielder Calhanoglu plays the deep-lying playmaker role for Inter.

The Turk has proven to be a formidable option in the position.

He has improved in both his defensive awareness and the physical side of his defending. But above all, Calhanoglu brings a range of passing and instinct to control the game with it.